Based on getting to mooch 1 Amazing dumpling from one pretty cool friend who brought a box home: 4+ stars. Delicious.

This review may be due to this having been a GrubHub delivery. Potstickers we're pretty good, a little dry. Only one sauce arrived per order, we asked for extra spicy sauce which did not arrive. The sauce was pretty much just salty soy sauce. Food left in hotel hallway with not even a knock. $40 for two orders with delivery and tip is way too expensive. Would not do that again. read more

We went here even after reading the reviews. I didn't have high expectations so in the end I wasn't too disappointed. We ordered the Xiao Long Bao, green scallion pancakes, beef noodle soup, and bbq pork buns. The bbq pork buns came out first. I am not a huge fan of bbq pork but these were not too bad. They were not overly sweet as some tend to be. The one thing I did notice was it seemed like they were steamed a little too long. The outer bun was a bit more on the mushy side. The green scallion pancakes and beef noodle soup came out next. The scallion pancakes had a good flavor and were nice and flakey. Not sure why they included a soy sauce dip but it wasn't needed. The beef noodle soup was meh. This is the one dish I always get to judge a restaurant on. I grew up on this dish having gone to the hole-in-the-wall little shops in San Francisco. The soup was covered in a chili oil that did not add much heat, just oil. There was bok choy and slices of tomatoes. Someone else mentioned how weird it was to have large slices of tomatoes, and I would completely agree. The beef was ok and has potential. Some pieces were dry whereas some others were tender and perfect. Not sure why the differences. The noodles, like the bun, were over cooked. I didn't try the Xiao Long Bao. When we ordered them, the lady mentioned they are not like what we are thinking, and they have the bun like the bbq pork bun. They also do not have the juice. A few things can be easily fixed. Steam the buns less and don't cook the noodles as long. Remove the tomatoes and either add more bok choy or some Napa cabbage to the noodle soup. Change the name of the Xiao Long Bao to steamed pork bun. The people working there are nice. The place has a second floor upstairs with the restrooms located in the basement. I don't think I will be able to go back. My stomach was not too happy after leaving. read more

Best dumplings I have ever had. Randomly stopped in here while walking on state street. I had to order 2 more sets of 10 chive and pork dumplings. They were just so good I couldn't stop eating. Oh, ya whatever that sauce is amazing!!!! read more

Just sampled the scallion pancakes. Greasy but oh so crispy and delicious. Nice dipping sauce and choice of garnishes. Simple but very satisfying. Can't wait to try other menu offerings. read more

Chen's Dumpling House - 21) Scallion Pancake - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If you like Dumplings or just good food in general, you cannot go wrong with Chen's. So conveniently located on State St. and such a good price for the quality of food! Definitely try the Traditional Beijing Noodles with Soybean Paste or the Udon Noodles with Brisket if you get the chance! read more

Nothing fancy about this tiny little eatery, but the food is authentic and tasty! My sister and I had been walking in the cold and ducked into this place to take a break and warm up. We split a giant plate of pork dumplings and they were delicious, warm, and filling; the perfect fuel for exploring the city on a wintery day. read more

Kick ass dumplings! Handmade and stuffed full. I had the pork and chive plus a chive pancake for a late night snack. Dipping sauce and hot oil were best I've had in a long while. Place is a little rough, but clean, just the way I like it! Next trip I will be trying bao and soup. 5 Stars, no doubts. Lucky college kids!! read more

A great local spot. I had passed this restaurant multiple times, and always wondered about it. I finally stopped in and was excited to see all the options for dumplings as well as other dishes. I would eat here again! read more

When I visited, I was able to try the restaurant's version of "xiao long bao" and the wonton soup. I'm not going to comment on the "xiao long bao" because I believe that the other reviewers have already covered that menu item very thoroughly and there's no point to me complaining about that anymore. The wonton soup was incredibly disappointing. It was bland soup that was "flavored" with seaweed and several tiny wontons. I've had bigger and tastier wontons in Costco bulk packs. Service was also disappointing. When I went up to speak to the cashier about my order, she became very annoyed and snapped at me. Luckily, her manager or the owner nearby heard the conversation and tried to deescalate the situation. Two stars because the soup was hot, my food came out quickly, and my table was clean. But that's it. read more

This no-nonsense little restaurant's star attraction is the housemade dumplings. The dumplings tasted fresh, their skin was not too thick, the fillings and dipping sauce were flavorful (we tried the pork/chive and chicken/mushroom combos), and they were cooked just right. The minced noodle soup was tasty, but not as good as the dumplings. read more

Amazing soup and dumplings, if you want it actually spicy get medium/hot the default isn't very spicy. I really enjoyed the self service since the restaurant was quite small so the walk to refills was very short. read more

So far I have been there twice, both times the food has been fantastic! The restaurant is tight and there is a step in front which poses a slight challenge to wheelchair users such as myself, but it is totally worth it! Madison was lacking a GOOD dumpling house as the only other in the hilldale mall is sub par as far as I can tell. Would recommend read more

Best Dumplings Ever!! So glad I came here dumplings are fresh and my go to place in Madison. Highly recommend. Also scallion pancakes are good read more

Disappointing . In town for my birthday and looking forward to yummy dumplings. Go into a ramshackled little place- super nice people and I thought this is exactly what I wanted. For those unfamiliar with the Xia Long Bao (Shanghai Soup Dumpling -the operative word being soup), it is a thin, delicate wrapper around a pork meatball that you lift onto an oversized spoon and dap with a little vinegar based sauce. You poke it with a chopstick and steaming hot soup gushes out and y'slurp it down and enjoy a truly fabulous experience (sorry for the food porn). The Xia Long Bao here were doughy and may have had as much as 2-3 micro-drops of soup. NOT WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. Speaking of soup, I ordered the NIu Rao Mian (Taiwanese Spicy Beef Noodle Soup). This is supposed to be a very complex and hearty soup that is just delicious (my daughter says it's very manly). Theirs was on the okay side at best. We got the Char Siu Bao (bbq pork bun), it was good enough. The scallions pancakes were tasty. My wife liked the chicken and mushrooms dumplings. My son loved his red bean buns and the lotus buns. I really wanted to like this place a lot. If you go, don't order the Xia Long Bao unless you've never had them before and you'll appreciate that they taste good and you aren't missing the true soup dumpling experience. read more

Yum yum yum! Great food. Best dumplings in Madison. Don't go anywhere else. This place was suggested to us by a Chinese friend. We haven't had every menu item, but everything we've had is spectacular. read more

Amazing vegetable dumplings. The filling is flavorful and includes tofu, chopped scallions and mushrooms. Tastes great with black vinegar and chili oil. read more

Great authentic dumplings!! I've only ordered delivery but even so, the food held up well! I love the pork and chive dumplings. The egg and chive pockets are really good, and as is the beef scallion pancake (though I imagine those are better in the shop). I wouldn't recommend so much getting noodles delivered because they do tend to clump but the flavor was still good! read more

Chen's Dumpling House was a disappointment. I had the vegetable dumplings and the pork buns. Both lacked flavor and the wrappings were falling apart. The pork in the buns was dry and didn't contain enough fat, resulting in a not so savory, underwhelming bun. As someone who lived in China for years, I have some authority to say Chen's food is amateurish at best. Although the menu and ambiance is quite authentic, the food itself leaves little to be desired. The guy taking orders was also standoffish, which honestly is fine by me if the food is good--but it wasn't. read more

This place is one of the best if not the best places for dumplings in madison. Dumplings are cook perfectly and everything is reasonably priced. All of the noodle and soup options are excellent. I've never had something on the menu I didn't like. read more

I work for doordash and asked how long it would take for the customers order to be finished. The man at the register said 10mins. So I waited. And 12mins later I asked how long... he said, "You see its not done right??" He was blatantly rude to me and then he started to argue with and told me to shut up.Would not recommend buying anything from this establishment. read more

Delicious and amazing service. I went here twice during my visit and enjoyed it both times!

Food was authentic, handmade, excellent. It is such a delight to see so many diverse offerings today in Madison -- among the bars plastered with TVs blaring sports. Highly recommended. Both the beef noodle soup and pork and chive dumplings were great. Seems like a perfect warm-up spot in winter. read more

This is our new spot! No frills, nice staff and the food is amazing. We had the barbecue chinese dumplings, crab soup dumplings, and the chicken and mushroom dumplings. So fresh and you can tell it was made with love. A gem on state street. read more

More like a 3.5 but I always like to round up for reviews! I agree with one of the early reviewers that the Xiao Long Bao from this place are really not similar to other XLB I've had (and I've eaten my fair share of them...). The dumpling wrapper on them was very thick and the filling wasn't as juicy as I was expecting but it was still flavorful albeit texturally disappointing. My boyfriend and I also ordered the scallion pancakes and pan fried pork and chive dumplings, which I enjoyed more than the Xiao Long Bao. The pan fried dumplings had a great texture and the filling was really yummy. The scallion pancakes were crispy and came with some chili dipping oil. Overall, I'd probably order the pan fried dumplings and scallion pancakes again but pass on the Xiao Long Bao. The prices are very fair for what you get and the food comes out fast so if you're looking for a quick cheap meal on State, this is a solid option. read more

Chen's Dumpling House - Scallion pancakes, pan fried pork and choice dumplings, xiao long bao - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is the bomb!! If you are in Madison and looking for good Chinese food that actually tastes authentic then this is the one and only place to go. They have a great selection of steamed/fried dumplings as well as an extensive menu of appetizers and other entrees. My only issue with Chen's is that their sauce is not spicy enough for me, which is obviously only a minor thing. My go tos are chicken and mushroom as well as chive and pork. Also highly recommend any dish that includes the scallion pancake. read more

Wonderful staff. Great freshly made dumplings and noodles. The spicy cold noodles with chicken was delicious. Wish they had a cafe in LaCrosse. read more

They got my take out order wrong and when I returned to ask them to fix the order I was greeted by incredibly rude employee who didn't believe me. I was very nice to all the employees and I am a returning customer, however, due to the employees rudeness and unprofessional attitude I will not be returning. read more

This is my new favorite place to eat in Madison! The dumplings taste like they came straight out of my grandma's kitchen: fresh, authentic, and made with care. I can't wait to come back. read more

Kitchen and seating area are so clean I would eat off any surface in this place. Wonderful view, cozy atmosphere. Mind blowing dumplings, especially the red bean ones. Warm, fresh, and fluffy breading. This is our new go to comfort food. The menu is simple and easy ordering style makes it feel classic. Very reasonable prices, too. Will definitely be back. read more

Chen's Dumpling House - Red bean and steamed pork dumplings with house sauce - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My wife and I stumbled upon this place while perusing for a place to have lunch, and we were both pleasantly surprised. Having been born in the northeast coast of China (Tianjin), my parents tried their hardest to retain our heritage through food after immigrating to the states when I was a child. They prided themselves on being able to make northern, Chinese style dumplings, and pork and chives dumplings were their specialty. Let's just say I've had my fill while growing up, so I've always gravitated towards this particular item, and believe me when I say it's quite a challenge to find places that can truly deliver a great, authentic(ish) dumpling, and this endeavor is almost next to impossible in smaller towns/cities. Passing by Chen's Dumpling House, I saw a plate of dumplings on another patron's plate which looked like they would meet my parent's lofty standards, but I then became reluctant after reading a couple reviews after pulling out my phone. We still decided to give this place a shot, and thank goodness we did. We ordered the pork & chive dumplings and not only did they meet our expectations, they exceeded them. Were they the best P&C dumplings we've ever had? No, but they were darn good especially after you factor in the price ($7.95 for 10). After ordering, we were quickly presented with 10 large and very tasty dumplings which were clearly cooked to order. The filling was seasoned well and made with the right consistency (i.e. not to dry or wet). If I had to complain about anything, it would be that the filling was heavier on the pork, and I prefer more chives. Needless to say, we scarfed down our order in record time as we both smiled and nodded to each other conveying approval and satisfaction. I also want to note that a few of the more critical reviews reference how Chen's serves an "incorrect" version of Xiao Long Bao, and while we did not order them ourselves, we saw what seemed to be Xiao Long Bao's (the correct kind) being served. I'm not sure if the owners made an adjustment or there is some kind of menu miscommunication issue, but I am eager to try their version along with all the other items on their menu given our recent experience. Overall we both felt Chen's is a welcome addition to State street and the downtown area, and we will definitely be back! Keep in mind, dumplings are a finicky food which many people have strong opinions about, so my main advice is to take the reviews on here with a grain of salt (mine included) and try them yourself because this place is worth a try at the very least. Also, if they are full downstairs, which was the case during our visit, they have an upstairs seating area which is even bigger than the downstairs area. TL;DR * We had the Pork & Chive dumplings which were about as authentic as they could be given it's Madison * Excellent value (dumplings) for what you get * Very tasty and served fresh & quick * A lot more seating upstairs * They seem to have the "correct" version of Xiao Long Bao * Clean place with fast service read more

Im giving this a 3 because the soup was bland. If I had only gotten the dumplings I would have given this place a 5 because they were delicious. I was just so disappointed in the soup. The pork dumplings were delicious though and the next time I'm in Madison I am getting more of those! read more

Great beef noodle soup and tasty dumplings! Hole in the wall vibe means the best food.

As other people noted-- this place looks like it has potential. A bunch of different dumpling options, a Chinese menu, a legit looking dumpling boiling operation. I half expected to look around and see people drinking jiaozitang (the water the dumpling are boiled in) something I've never seen in the states. But I was really disappointed. The dumplings were improperly stuffed, watery, and lacking in salt. The baozi (steamed buns) were okay. And people seem to like the noodles, so I might be back to try other menu items. But overall feeling is meh. A great northern Chinese place is still absent from the state st scene. read more

Veggie dumplings are delicious. I could eat these every day. Good selection of canned beverages. I wish they had a tofu option for the noodle dishes. read more

This place is horrible! Not cheap and food is bad. Bc I'm Chinese, the order taker mocked me for asking about ingredients! I did not get what I ordered and when I brought that to their attentions, they claimed it was what I ordered. We ordered four different dishes but two were exactly the same. I go to Chinatown often and was hopeful this place would be good bc Madison is a foodie town but no, the food was poor and worse yet, the staff was racist and rude! read more

Get a bowl of noodle with Peking sauce. Well, for over $9 I would expect a meal better than this. The bowl is only half full with some gravy on the bottom and that's it. There are barely any meat or vegetable. The noodle is tasty but it doesn't make up the the poor experience. read more

Cool hole in the wall. Pretty good prices and food. Unfortunately the Xiao Long Bao were not made how they normally are, and are more similar to a regular pork and chive dumpling than soup dumplings. read more

Irandomly came across them the day after they opened and the staff was very helpful as i had no idea what to order! I LOVED the pork and bok choy dumplings read more

The beef roll is good and the chive omelet got a lot better since the last time. The delivery company they use is very expensive. If theres another similar restaurant I wouldn't come. Madison leaves me no other choice. read more