We were very excited to try this place. After being seated by the cutest hostess, the drink and food menu looked great and we decided on apps and drinks. After waiting 5 mins for a server to even acknowledge our existence we left and walked down to Yoshi Sushi were we seated and our server greeted us in less than a minute. read more

My friends went GA-GA over this place. We had lunch there and were given great suggestions from our waitress. She explained everything and she wasn't the only one - we must have looked confused about something because another person came over and asked if we had any questions. I mean, who does that kind of service? Ugly Dumpling does! They comfortably can handle large tables (I saw 3 groups) as well as solos. The food comes out as it's ready so it appears in no particular order. Food was fresh and easy to eat with either chopsticks or forks without judgement. They had a good sized bar area but it was too early for me! Their cold tea drinks were quite good as were the dumplings. Fun place to go - I'll go back! read more

I was excited to try this restaurant after reading so many positive reviews, but my experience was underwhelming. The noodles were very oily and lacked flavor, and the chicken was average- similar to standard takeout spots. The pork truffle dumplings were the best part, though the truffle flavor was subtle. If we were to return, I'd only order different flavors of the dumplings. Service was slow and they forgot to bring us one of our sides. read more

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This place is really cute I had high hopes for it! The service was extremely nice and the building was clean. I honestly didn't care too much for the food and drinks. The waiter did warn us that it was family styled restaurant which I appreciate but it was really weird for my partner to get their food before me and for me to get my entree before my appetizer. The braised beef soup was actually good compared to other places. The fried chicken dumplings were not good at all, I couldn't even finish a whole dumpling. Our drinks tasted good but it mainly had juice in it, it did not taste like much alcohol. I was disappointed because the place is so cute and in a very convenient area. I probably wouldn't come back unless they updated their menu. read more

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Just so you know, this is Amer-asian, not Asian. Their signature dish is the dumplings. I got the sampler. It's 5 dumplings. That's it, for $11. I thought it was soup. No, the broth is inside the dumplings, so this is an appetizer. I ordered a noodle entree. It was a child's portion of noodles with beef strips and peppers. Very flavorful, but small. If that was all I would have ordered, I would have left hungry. It's odd because the table next to us had normal sized portions. The menu lists 3 vegetables!! Yeah! You can get green beans, spinach, or I think the 3rd one was broccoli. Didn't order that, but I was happy to see that as an option. The ambiance is nice, clean, spacious. Service was adequate. I wouldn't go back because it was just okay. It's a nice change of pace. It's definitely different from your typical Asian, but still just okay. read more

The food was delicious and service was great. I want to go back and try other menu items. read more

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Dog friendly plus it is dog friendly with outdoor seating like look how happy she is and the braised beef soup is very good and I really liked the pork and crab soup dumpling it is very good read more

Ugly Dumpling - Dog - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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First time trying ugly dumplings and it did not disappoint! We ordered the chicken wonton and chicken dumplings and the portions were more than enough for me and my friend. The flavor of the wonton and dumpling was tasty and clean at the same time (not oily or salty). The balance was just right. We spent total of $16 which was amazing because the food was affordable and delicious. Will definitely be coming more often read more

Ugly Dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Ate here in a Tuesday night. Was packed! Enjoyed every option on the menu- the best one was the noodles with spicy sauce. I think this is very unique for Richmond and happy to see dumplings place. I've been to the west coast where there are similar to this everywhere and always enjoy eating there. The service was prompt and friendly loved Elise our server. I would come back and am looking forward to when they start happy hour. The ambiance also can't be beat. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Menu cover. So cute - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Service was great and the waiter was very attentive. The salt and pepper chicken was tasty! The fried rice was a little salty, but still good. The soup dumplings were SOOOOOO amazing!! Will definitely go back again! read more

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This was my first visit as it was my first visit to Richmond Virginia. I did takeout and I bought the Cream Cheese Rangoon which was fried to perfection with the interior smooth and tasty. Then I ate the Mongolian Beef which was also cooked to perfection. The Beef was cooked well. Not too chewy and the meat was not fatty. It had a good mix of the vegetables to meat ratio! I wanted the dumplings but it would have been too much food so I will go back! Wait for my review of those! read more

Now today was really their true first day because they got snowed out yesterday. So we're giving them a lot of grace on service. We are also a bit of a dumpling snob. We would say it is the best soup dumplings that are in Richmond. They have a diverse portfolio of dumplings. Also, some of the best wonton soup we've had. Yes today was the first day, so there was much confusion, but the manager came and talked to us and it's the first day. Be careful if you order everything at once because everything then will come at once. If you want bubble tea with bubbles, make sure you actually advocate for that. We will definitely be back, but we might let them get their feet under them before going back. read more

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AMAZING!! My waitress was so kind and helpful. She gave great recommendations and brought our food out quickly. The food was also very very good. I tried many things on the menu like the chicken soup dumplings and the orange chicken. These are a must try!! read more

Tens across the board! Everything from the food to the service was amazing. The ambience of the restaurant was decorated down to a T from the artwork also to the dumpling making station where you can watch them make fresh dumplings by hand. Our waiter Dexter did an amazing job of walking us through the menu and also gave us some of his recommendations. I'm definitely gonna go back and try dessert next time. I would recommend this restaurant to any and everyone. Overall 10/10!! read more

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When the lovely waitress asks if you're done or want more food...and you say "whew Chile... no" Ugly Dumpling was 10/10. So excited to have a small plates restaurant like this in RVA. I knew it was legit when the customers were at least 50% Asian. My daughter and I love Asian food so we were excited. Service was great. Went around 11:45 on a Saturday and it was already filling up. Ambiance is great and everything was clean. Food came out as it was ready which was fun and kept it hot. We both loved everything. The sesame noodles were good and spicy. The pork bao buns were perfect with a yummy filling and soft bun. Soup dumplings were very good. The soy garlic wings with a side of ugly sauce were probably our favorite item. Strawberry mochi was also refreshing and yummy. The plain steamed rice was the only meh factor. Overall a really great meal! 100% returning. read more

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I thought it was just me! Like some others, my experience included walking in, seeing most of the restaurant empty, waiting more than an hour, and seeing a ton of servers looking around because they were bored. This place lost A TON of business as most patrons left without waiting for a table. (The couple that sat beside us got up and left because no one would serve them. The managers saw the couple get up and leave and they seemed very confused. I don't blame them at all for leaving.) This place has great potential but so far, the management seemed WAY off. The tables are also arranged in a way that people were struggling to get through and some people were having accidents as they tried to get by. (Spilling, running into each other, servers not able to get by.) The food was so good!!! We ordered the shredded beef with noodles and the vegan wonton soup. Both were DELICIOUS, but the portions are smaller than a kids meal at a fast food restaurant. Do not go on an empty stomach. I'd give it a while before I go back. I think they need some time to figure it all out. read more

Heard about the opening of this Shanghainese soup dumpling place and had to give it a quick try. On further research their first restaurant was opened in less than 2 years ago and already 6 locations open and 4 more to come! The menu can be described as "best of" the trendy favs of Chinese food made popular by Ding Tai Feng, a famed Taiwanese restaurant which just opened one in a prime location of Manhattan. I actually grew up around the corner from the original location which my family would fight for a table in their tiny yet popular dining room. But back then it hasn't been hyped and everything was fairly priced. Today it's considered fine dining and therefore many soup dumpling places have been popping up. In comes ugly dumpling. I had to try the soup dumplings, of course. They are really good! The taste and quality both get top marks. Also ordered the braised beef noodle soup and it was also great - the beef was tender, the soup base is with a hint of spice. Not too salty nor spicy. Maybe I would have liked different type of noodles, more greens and some picked vegetables on the side, but it's a revolution for Richmond. We also tried the crystal shrimp dumplings, a standard for dim sum, it was not bad. Finally the scallion pancakes- too oily unfortunately, if not eaten straight off the pan. For sure I would want to try more items on the menu simply because we are finally getting away from the stereotypical "Chinese takeout food" which is not real Chinese food. The only complaint is the price though, when considering the concept of they are in reality street food.... read more

Came here tonight expecting hiccups because it was day 3 but they honestly did a fantastic job. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable and not only that other servers checked in on us and so did the manager. Everything we tried was delicious and the price point does allow for some experimenting. Our favorites were the noodles with shredded beef and shishito peppers and the cucumber salad. We will be back to try more things. read more

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Honestly the food here is very eye catching and looks very delicious, however the food is pretty mediocre for it being so expensive. I tried to order a variety of food including the ramen, dumplings, orange chicken, soup dumplings, and even spring rolls, however it was all pretty bland tasting for the price. Before you come here, go to the menu, add all the prices of the food you want to get, then add a 10 percent sales tax, and then a 15-20 percent tip, and ask yourself, do you really want to spend that on bland food. Genuinely tasted like Walmart frozen food. I do however appreciate the building, the style, the window into the dumpling kitchen. Bottom line, everything on the menu should be 5 dollars less than it actually is. read more

Came in for Lunch food and service was great. This was first time here so tried a few of the dishes read more

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This is easily one of my new favorite spots in Richmond. I'm obsessed with the green tea noodles and their spicy sesame sauce as well as their Ugly Dumpling sampler, and I can't recommend them enough. I feel like I could eat them every day of the week and not get tired of them. The ambiance is also super cute and would make a great date night spot. Lastly, the manager, Fluffy, is also incredibly welcoming, kind, and really puts the customers first. If you haven't come here yet, write it down as next on your list! read more

Another great experience. Alivia service was amazing once again! This place is a must try and be sure to ask to sit in Alivia section. She provide recommendations and she's very attentive. read more

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We attended the Friendsgiving event at the Ugly Dumpling last night. It was an amazing experience!!! The event was advertised as a 5-course meal with drink pairings for each course and it delivered excellence. First course- garlic string beans paired with Proverb Chardonnay Second course- 4 soup dumplings (pork & crab, pork & truffle, chicken, and szechuan) 20/10 paired with a strawberry cosmopolitan Third course- shrimp teriyaki with udon noodles paired with a green apple margarita with red sugar rim (grinch vibes) Fourth course - steamed buns (chicken, red bean paste, & bbq chicken(?) paired with a cinnamon old fashioned Fifth course - I do not recall what the name of this dessert was, but it was the moistest, most flavorful round cake with a center that was or very close to cheesecake. It was paired with a non-alcoholic espresso type shot that was also super delicious. I can not stress enough how good this food was. Everything was seasoned well, served hot, and the drinks were full-sized and not watered down. However, as good as the food and beverages were, the service was EVEN BETTER. They made the experience one to remember and return to. Kudos to Ryan, Benjamin, Fluffy, Red, and everyone else that made this a memorable event. 20/10 No Notes! read more

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Stumbled across this restaurant on a random Thursday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised with happy hour specials! Our server, Hannah, was great! She was very knowledgeable about the menu and gave us good recommendations. The food came quickly and the vibes were fun. Will definitely come back! We got the salt and pepper popcorn chicken, fried chicken dumplings, cream cheese wontons, and beef stir fried noodles. We loved the family style serving and left feeling very full! read more

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Would not recommend. Greasy food, slow service, none attentive staff. Skip and go elsewhere

We went to Ugly Dumpling for dinner on May 14. The kids chose this place because of its funny name. To our surprise, the dim sum dishes in this small restaurant were much better than other bigger Chinese dim sum restaurants in New Jersey. We also liked their shrimp fried rice and their dish string beans. Their location is also nice ... in the same plaza with a well-known Italian grocery store. read more

Uggh I really loathe not having an amazing food experience but here we are. @uglydumpling.us we were so hopeful. The atmosphere/vibe and cocktails spectacular but the most important element the food was mid at best. I'm usually the more critical reviewer in comparison to Mimi but she didn't have anything positive either which is rare. So to start off positive again the vibe was it, very inviting and the staff was super friendly and welcoming. The drinks are a tad expensive (starting at $15 for cocktails) but the Peach Blossom was amazing lol our hats off to the bartender (5/5). Now the food: oddly enough the side of rice (2.6/5) came out first our waitress said it's like that as certain items come from different kitchens *blank stare* so I took the appetizer dish to cover in an attempt to hold the heat in (she said if it was cold she would replace it). A while later the cucumber "salad" came out and uggh tiny cucumbers drenched in so much sesame oil...very overpowering, otherwise tasteless (1/5). Mimi's orange chicken came out (2.9/5) it didn't give orange but it was decent nothing to write home about, fried well and good portion. My order of fried chicken dumplings came and though piping hot (which is always good) they were yes you guessed tasteless but luckily the sauce had an salty element to help (3/5) and as I generally do I ask the wait staff for suggestions based on popularity and she suggested the noodles with shredded beef and shishito peppers: zero flavor (go figure) other than the heat from the peppers, meat was a thin cut not shredded, noodles were sticking together. To make it palatable I added the dumpling sauce and a splash of black vinegar (1/5). We didn't bother to return the food (it's rare that we do unless it's inedible). read more

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My husband and I have driven past this place many a times as it was being built/in the process of opening and we were excited to finally try it. We went on a Thursday night and we were sat at a table in the middle of the room rather than a booth - we should have spoken up cause it felt like we were in kind of an awkward location but it didn't take away from the overall meal. The inside has a fun atmosphere - nice and open and my husband was happy to see the hockey playoffs were on in the bar (lol)! Our waiter was great - super friendly and attentive and answered my questions when I was curious about the size of the bao buns and the dumplings. We got the spring rolls and scallion pancake to start. Then we shared the chicken fried rice, bbq bao buns, pork dumplings, chicken soup dumplings, and the green beans. We got a lot of food and had to take some home. Everything was delicious - our only critique of the experience was that the soup dumplings kept sticking to the paper underneath which caused them to rip and leak - no longer really being a soup dumpling! Other than that, I'm sure we'd be back! read more

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The cucumber salad was good. The dumplings were good but nothing to write home about. The fried rice was offensive. Service was ok. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Chicken Fried Rice - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Really enjoyed the dumplings and the green tea noodles with spicy sauce. I would definitely visit again. read more

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Ambiance was nice but I thought the food wasn't anything I'd go back for. The cucumber salad was good and the only reason this review gets 3 stars instead of 2. The stir fry noodles with shrimp lacked flavor. Too much spinach in the noodles. Shrimp were small and very few. read more

The food was good but the uncertainty with Happy Hour menu did put a damper on the experience. I really want to rate it a 3 star but the servers were still pretty friendly so it brought it up an extra star. We came to Happy Hour two weeks in a row and both times our server said that Happy Hour included 1/2 appetizers and dim sum. I even verified the specials this time around before I ordered since they do not have a physical Happy Hour food menu. When we went to pay the check only the appetizers were half off. They checked with the manager on duty and confirmed with us that only appetizers were in the specials. This caused a bit of frustration in our experience since I asked before ordering. All in all food was good regardless I am a bit off put by the miscommunication. *I didn't post any of the dim sum because of my frustration with being charged full price read more

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I went two weekends ago and it is the place to go for bang for your buck! We got so much food at a reasonable price. It leaned more toward the fast casual side of dining but still had a full bar. Everything was delicious. We tried multiple dumplings, wantons, and rangoons at the table and left very full! You can watch the staff make the dumplings as you eat, so you know they are fresh! Totally recommend going! read more

BF and I tried this place on a whim and we were surprised by how much we enjoyed the food! Pork and Truffle, Szechuan Pork Dumplings. We shared the chicken fried dumplings, shredded beef noodles and the green beans. There was not a bite left of any of it!!! A lot of food but easily sharable. Food came out quick and she warned us it would come out separate and out of order which reminded me of a tapas place. Service was pleasant and helpful. The restaurant itself was well decorated and comfortable. In general it seemed a little disorganized, but that might have just been the night. If you like Chinese and especially DUMPLINGS, highly recommend trying this place out! Enjoy! read more

This was my first visit. Everything was perfect from the hostess to the waiter to the food. Everything was delicious. Will definitely be back. read more

Food and service were good. The noodle type that we received looked different from the picture on the menu so I'm not sure if that changes from time to time. read more

First time dining here and it was such a unique experience! Food was fresh, service was good, and the ambiance was modern and trendy. Would highly recommend trying the Ugly Dumpling and we will definitely be back again! read more

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Update: I've gone back pretty much every other week or more, the BBQ Pork buns are the best, all their servers are amazing although my pink haired one is the best, the restaurant is apps beautiful, I force everyone to go here with me and will continue to come back it is a must stop restaurant! read more

Ugly Dumpling - Bar area, mochi ice cream - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Hudson was an awesome server, very attentive and had good recommendations. 10/10 server.

The food was so good! It was a fun place to stop and get lunch. We will be back the green beans were fav read more

Ugly Dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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