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    Dough Zone Dumpling House

    4.1 (72 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    DOUGH ZONE DUMPLING HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise

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    Steamed Pork Buns (4) 特色鲜肉蒸包
    Thomas S.

    Great first visit to Dough Zone! I liked the service and location. Thumbs up on the variety and the size of the dishes because you can order a lot of different things. We ordered more than the photos indicate. I'd go back. The flavors are very good.

    Sweet and sour cucumbers
    Daniel S.

    Sweet Sour Cucumber $7.95 was surprisingly good, light, refreshing. Pork Xiao Long Bao $9.95 was expected and quite delicious. This was the heaviest part of my meal and added a nice heft. The Zha Jiang Mian $7.90... I really wanted the sauce to carry more weight with a dense bitter flavor which would have paired nicely with noodles and the generous amount of julienne vegetables. A solid addition to Berkeley and one where I can at least see myself coming back too. That said, it's stiff competition out there.

    Egg Fried Rice
    Romelia R.

    A spacious, modern, and busy restaurant during peak hours. We ordered through our phone at our table and a server was quick to bring drinks and food. Prices are unbeatable and so affordable you'll want to order the whole menu. We ordered the following: Sweet & Sour Cucumber (9/10) - fresh and crunchy cucumber cut in a spiral with a sweet and tangy marinade. One of our favs of the night. Egg Fried Rice (8/10) - good taste and fluffy rice made this a solid choice. Xiao Long Bao (7/10) - we went with a chicken order and a pork order. Each came with 8 pieces. I would had wanted them to have more soup. They had a generous amount of filling but the soup to filling ratio could had been better. The chicken ones also had a hint of something that we weren't fans of. Beef Stew Noodle Soup (9/10) - the meat in this soup was so tender! Noodles and broth were yummy too. Another of our favorites of the night. Green Onion Pancake (9/10) - perfect dough thickness with a flaky crunchy shell. Pork & Shrimp Potstickers (8/10) - I love a crunchy dough skirt that connects the potstickers and this one delivered. The filling had a good salty seasoning too so it had a good balance. Shrimp & Zucchini Steamed (8/10) - An interesting combo that worked very well.

    Egg Fried Rice
    Warren K.

    First time trying the Doughzone in Berkeley and it did not disappoint. Came on Saturday for lunch and it wasn't busy at all and we got seated right away. We ordered the following for the 2 of us: Egg Fried Rice (7/10) Mala Noodle Soup (8/10) Crispy Pork Bun (8.5/10) Pork XLB (8.5/10) Cucumber Salad (8/10) Overall, the food was extremely solid, especially for the pricing too. The total came out to around $25 a person, but if we went to a higher end Chinese restaurant and ordered the same things, it might be almost double that. A must try if you're in the Berkeley area!

    Photo 1: Montage of images from Dumpling Zone Dumpling House
    Ed U.

    I'm not surprised Third Rock Brewery sold their adjoining space because it just seemed like a cavernous dining room when the bar got overly crowded. This burgeoning Seattle-originated dumpling chain has taken over the space, and they look to be thriving among dim sum competitors because they have close to thirty locations now. I stepped in after going to the gym because I deluded myself into thinking I could afford more carbs in my body. I was trying to be careful about not overloading on the dumplings which came in orders of six and eight for xiao long bao. What I appreciated was that calorie counts were included for each item on the menu. It certainly helped me because I went with one of their lower calorie options, the $8.75 Steamed Shrimp & Zucchini Dumplings (Photo 9). They were quite hot from the steamer and pretty tasty with thin wrappers encasing the minced fillings. I switched gears and ordered the $7.90 Green Onion Soy Sauce Noodles, a small bowlful for just 200 calories, good though a bit chewy for my taste (Photo 10). I tried offsetting my carb intake by ordering the crunchy good $7.65 Sweet & Sour Cucumber based primarily on how it was sliced into a spiral blossom (Photo 7). I received an order of the $7.65 Broccoli with Seafood Sauce (Photo 8). It was a mistake but was it? Good for me, they were healthy florets indeed. FOOD - 4 stars...good dim sum fare, calorie conscious, reasonably priced AMBIANCE - 4 stars...quite spacious in here SERVICE - 4.5 stars...server was attentive and receptive, you place your order on a form here TOTAL - 4 stars...here's a dumpling spot I can patronize with a clear conscience RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places l've patronized and reviewed: https://yelp.to/gck94bqhsd

    Banana dessert bread
    May Z.

    Honestly obsessed! 1. Unbeatable prices 2. Incredible service 3. The pork and crab soup dumplings are SO GOOD 4. The Dan Dan noodles

    Front entrance
    Loren P.

    My close friend and I were spending a day in Berkeley for NYE, and I was very happy that Dough Zone was open that day. We were both pretty set on having dumplings and noodles for our meal. I've only had Dough Zone once in the past, and that was in Portland last August. I remember the flavors being on point and the price point being extremely affordable. This Dough Zone recently opened, and I was excited to try it. It was a rainy NYE, so not a lot of people were dining in. At first I was a little sad when I saw the "open" sign was not on, but then I looked closer and saw people inside the restaurant. Cell service sucks in the building. The restaurant is built in what used to be a huge concrete garage of some sort, and even though there was signage to join the WiFi, that in itself was slow as well. The staff were chill, but mainly left me and my friend to our own devices. Unlike the Portland location, we were not given paper menus. I asked about that and was simply told that they would prefer we order from Toast. I would honestly have preferred a paper menu given how slow Toast was loading, but fine. We got it to work. We placed our order, and the food started arriving in less than 10 minutes. In total, I think it only took us 15 min to get all of our food. I was a little surprised about the wait time, but we were hungry, so it was nice. Overall, the food was fresh and pretty flavorful. We were given ginger upon sitting down, and there was plenty of chili oil, vinegar, and soy sauce in the condiment area. I was a little thrown off by the use of Napa cabbage in the beef noodle soup, as it traditionally comes with bok choy, but at least it soaked up the broth really nicely. The beef was super tender and the noodles were bouncy. I did not order this dish in Portland so I have nothing to compare it to, but the broth hit the spot. The pork and crab XLB were decent, as I couldn't really pick apart the crab flavor. I also remember the XLB being juicier at the Portland location. The Dan Dan noodles and chili oil wontons were on par with what I remember tasting at Dough Zone Portland, and the pan fried pork buns were pretty good as well, with plenty of soup inside. I did not order the pan fried pork buns in Portland so I don't have a comparison, but overall they were good. If I must compare them to others I've had at other dumpling restaurants, I will have to say that the buns here were a little thicker and chewier. The cucumber salad was also pretty good, but not as garlicky as I remember. Overall, this location is pretty good. As it has recently opened, I'll give it some grace, but there are a few things that could be tweaked in terms of service as well as flavor for some menu items. Value wise, you can't beat Dough Zone for its affordability for sure. I'd be willing to come back (next time with my husband) when I'm in the area again!

    Beef noodle soup
    Sheila K.

    Newly opened dumpling place in the gourmet ghetto. Nice open space with lots of seating. ADA accessible. Modern space. FOOD REVIEW. 1) Order the pork soup dumplings. They are good. Thin skin that doesn't fall apart. Soup isn't gelatinous but soupy. Flavor is good. 2) Order the cucumber. 3) Get the beef noodle soup. The portion is small so if you have a healthy appetite order more food. 4) Beef roll. Warp is very crispy and the beef ratio is more than the veggies. Good if you like meat. 5) Skip the fried Rice. This came at the end that we had to just take it out. It was dry and not very flavorful. 6) the crab and pork dumpling was a new flavor we hadn't tried. It was okay. Service is limited to your food being brought and not very attentive. I would recommend to up the service. Would return again for the dumplings.

    Pork Xiao Long Bao
    Hong N.

    Fair amount of seating and clean place. Servers were nice and you order on the QR code. Food was pretty cheap everything was under $10, but portions for some things like the noodles were on the smaller side. Pork xiao long bao was pretty good as was the beef shank noodles. Good flavor for the price. Scallion noodles were ok, not much scallion flavor a lot of soy sauce flavor. Spicy beef pancake was also pretty flavorful and strong Szechuan flavor. Would recommend coming here if you want Chinese food for a cheaper price in Berkeley

    Bianca H.

    I love dumplings. I already tried the other locations for Dough Zone, so now that one opened in my local area, I had to try it! I came on a friday, right when they opened. Since I was with a larger group, it took some time for them to seat us. There was also only about 2 runners, one being the host. So, the service was probably slower than normal. The food and the quality of the food was soo good. You really get what you pay for in terms of price, which some dishes having 8 dumplings and being about $7-$9 per dish. It's a good price for the portions. They did forget a few items, and gave us several duplicates of the same items, but my group was understanding of it. Would love to come back by myself or with less people and try more items on the menu! It is so good here and there are several options of chicken and vegetarian dishes, which isn't what you usually see!

    Dan Dan mien
    Kristine Y.

    This new restaurant has hope. Their restaurant is nice and clean with an industrial flair, which I love. The service is good. They do check in on you and ask if everything was okay The taste of the dishes is good. I like the little twists they do. To me the beef pancake roll was too sweet, but I am a savory lover so it is my taste for sure. The dumplings are super juicy and definitely live up to the soup dumpling name. My problem what you get. I ordered the Dan Dan noodles, which has a ma la flavor, $7.90. This was an appetizer size noodles. Many people will order a noodle as their main and only dish. Seems there should be some sort of size warning I would come back for the flavor fun but with the understanding their noods are ap size. Beef Pancake $9.90 Pork Xiao Long Bao (8) $9.95 Dan Dan Mien $7.90

    Crystal G.

    Went here for the first time and it was amazing! Each bite was fresh and hot and full of flavor. I would definitely try this again if in the area. The staff assisting us were consistent and friendly and helpful. The tables looked a bit sticky, but after eating I realized it might be hard to clean the tables to perfection. Though, while we ate the servers were wiping items like condiments. It really showed they care about what the place looked like and made me comfortable eating there.

    Dumplings
    Mia B.

    So glad I stopped by this place! The atmosphere was calm and inviting, and the staff was so friendly. The spirally cucumber salad was absolutely delicious, and the dumplings were all so full of flavor! Would definitely recommend the shrimp and zucchini, shrimp and pork, and veggie dumplings! Plus, this place has pretty good pricing for the amount of food you get! Will 100% be coming back.

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    3 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Great food, got the pork soup dumplings, chive and eggs pan fried ones, and noodles. Everything was excellent.

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    The Dan Dan noodles and pickled cucumbers are a MUST!! Friendly staff and cute interior.

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    I am absolutely shocked I haven't reviewed Southside Station since trying them out for the first…read moretime at a Yelp Event back in 2021 because we've been back so many times since. Although it's a small and cozy space, they have both inside and outside seating. Food wise, my go-to is their amazing curly fries and lychee iced tea, while the hunny absolutely adores their fried chicken sandwiches. It's probably some of his favorite fried chicken in the Bay Area. We try order online as we're driving over because everything is made to order so there can be a bit of a wait during the lunchtime rush, but the service is super friendly and helpful and everything is always delicious. So we will definitely keep coming back!

    Today's adventure took me to Berkeley in search of fried chicken. For some reason fried chicken has…read morebecome my new love. Whenever I'm in search of something good to eat in the Bay Area I always check TikTok first. My search directed me to Southside Station! It's a small quaint establishment with a very quiet vibe. When I entered, there was a table of three gentlemen sitting there enjoying their selections. I checked in with them and got suggestions on what I should order. They made a recommendation, but I chose something totally different. I ordered the wings and garlic noodles with a side of brussels sprouts. This place is known for their fried chicken because it's so extra crunchy. They definitely did deliver on the crunch and the flavor. The garlic noodles were very garlic, which is what I liked, and the brussels sprouts were sautéed in a honey glaze. I decided to enjoy my food inside the restaurant as opposed to sitting outside where they have two tables set up. The young lady that took my order was ever so sweet and kind. She was the only one I saw in the restaurant behind the counter, but there may have been others working further in the back. There was an error on my order and she was quick to correct the error with an apology and a smile. The portion size was decent. I ended up taking home leftovers.

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    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    4.5(273 reviews)
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    Cali Alley is one of my go-to spots... I'm constantly trying to convince people to meet me there…read morefor lunch, or telling them to just DoorDash it because it's that good. It's also one of those places that makes you want to stay. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and generous. Every time I come here, I tell myself I'll pace myself... and every time I fail because it's just that good. The burgers are loaded and perfectly balanced, the fries are always crisp (never soggy, which is rare), and everything tastes high-quality and made to order. You have to try the chicken and waffles. The waffle batter tastes homemade and the butter takes it to another level... it's one of those dishes you keep thinking about after. I'll even DoorDash it all the way to Jingletown. The patio setup is really well done... there's a mix of larger tables for groups and higher bar-style seating for smaller hangs. The wooden furniture and cushioned benches make it comfortable, and they've got heaters for colder days and umbrellas when it's sunny, so you can usually pick your ideal spot. You order at the window and then just hang out while you wait... it's a relaxed flow and the food comes out pretty quickly. The staff are always kind and welcoming, and the whole place has a relaxed, homey vibe with really good music. Highly recommend... just come hungry.

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    I think the owners of this place are amazing. They are so sweet and friendly from the moment you…read morewant into the door. Great options, burgers with an Asia twist, as well as some dimsum. It's never been busy whenever I go, even on the weekends. We usually are seated within seconds of walking in. The food is delicious! One thing I would note - anything you add obviously adds onto your bill, but sometimes you don't even notice you're adding stuff cause they're so smooth in upselling your burger don't get me wrong - they are the sweetest people ever! Just surprising seeing an additional 10 bucks being added for like an egg, or side sauce for fries. Will continue going here whenever visiting the area!

    Photos
    310 Eatery - The "Detour" Tokyo Po'Boy Sandwich!

    The "Detour" Tokyo Po'Boy Sandwich!

    310 Eatery - Mothers Day 2022 could easily look like this again - Accepting RSVPs by phone, text or email at 310eatery@gmail.com. Open by 10A Sun, May 8

    Mothers Day 2022 could easily look like this again - Accepting RSVPs by phone, text or email at 310eatery@gmail.com. Open by 10A Sun, May 8

    310 Eatery - Larger groups find The 310's space highly amenable at Brunch time or any time-One of Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat, in America - call to RSVP

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    Larger groups find The 310's space highly amenable at Brunch time or any time-One of Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat, in America - call to RSVP

    Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge

    Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge

    4.0(313 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    Oh the fish and grits is to cry for, so tasty and delicious. The grits are flavored through and…read morethrough. Thick with a great consistency, I want the recipe. The savor of flavor in those grits, they are thick but thin. I have taste none other no where. Then the fish, battered just right crispy on the outside but soft and savory inside. I saved some fish for later because the portion can make 2 meals. This meal made me so happy I am going back a few more times. Definitely a repeat, stop by eat and grab a seat. You will be happy you did.

    Updated review: I was hype when I seen Momma Lynch's…read moreSpecial back on the menu at Rob Ben's Restaurant. I'm not going to lie, I been checking the site waiting for them to bring it back lol. Soon as I saw it, I had to order through DoorDash, and it did NOT disappoint. This plate is a whole feast for real. You get 3 party wings, 3 pieces of fish, 2 pork chops, plus green beans and mac & cheese. Everything came hot, fresh, and smelling good as soon as I opened it. The fish was crispy and seasoned right, not greasy at all. The wings were juicy and full of flavor, and them pork chops? Tender, seasoned all the way through, and cooked just right. Now the sides? Just as fire. The green beans had flavor, not bland like some places be doing, and that mac & cheese was creamy, cheesy, and hitting for real. You can tell they put love into this food. Portions is solid too. They not being stingy at all. Definitely worth the money. I'm glad they brought this back because yeah... I'm running this order back again real soon.

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    Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge
    Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - Fried chicken wings

    Fried chicken wings

    Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge

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    Southie

    Southie

    4.3(940 reviews)
    1.8 miRockridge, Elmwood, North Oakland
    $$

    When I think of a sandwich that has the ability to make my mouth water just thinking of it, few…read morecome to mind, but what the sandwiches they make at Southie is definitely one of them. I've had their Spicy Hog, steak with mushroom, a few Cubans, but the one that I always come back to is "The Balls" sandwich. First off, this sandwich is massive, so be sure that you come here on an empty stomach. These beef meatballs are seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. The balls are covered in their red sauce with provolone and Grana Padano, which gives it that nutty and salty flavor that pairs extremely well with the meatballs and baguette. All the juices and cheese just get soaked up to perfection. The baguette bread they use is supplied by La Farine, which is just a few meters away from each other. Just putting out there that La Farine is hands down one of the best bakeries in Oakland, so it makes sense that this sandwich would be so dang good. I'll be honest that I'm not a big fan of the chips or those chips in general and could be fine with just the sandwich. If you are going to have any sandwich to eat here first, I would highly recommend you try "The Balls" because I promise you will not be disappointed. I will always say that the dozen or so times I've been here, the staff are always so friendly, and the atmosphere is very down to earth. The price of their sandwiches is in the $20 range, but the quality and portion make it totally worth it.

    The spicy hog sandwich I had a few minutes ago was quite messy but good…read more However, my petty gripe is that it was 2pm, there was an open 2-person table on the side, but I was seated 1 foot from and facing the cash register, and told people were coming for the empty table. No one came and instead quickly several more tables cleared out. Rather than see a few minutes of the England-Serbia World Cup match, I saw a bunch of people up close paying lunch bills. Don't come in solo expecting a side table.

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    Southie - Inside bar and seating.

    Inside bar and seating.

    Southie - Meatball sandwich

    Meatball sandwich

    Southie - Closeup of a half eaten, grilled persimmon and burrata cheese crostini.

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    Closeup of a half eaten, grilled persimmon and burrata cheese crostini.

    Great China - Spring Rolls

    Great China

    4.0(2.8k reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown Berkeley
    $$$

    I've been here a couple of times and each time the food has been good! Others seem to rave about…read morethe double skin as well as sauteed crab meat with steamed buns so I'll have to get those next time. 1. Peking roast duck 3.5/5 I had really high expectations and unfortunately this roast duck was just okay. The skin was not super crispy but the duck itself had good flavor. The plum sauce was probably my favorite part. 2. Salt and pepper prawns 4.5/5 Note that these come with the skin on but it's fried so perfectly that the skin is completely edible with a crunchy texture. 3. Combination fried rice 5/5 I was surprised how much we enjoyed this but it was really well done. 4. Guo ta fish fillet 5/5 This was excellent--very tender fish fillet with a perfect soy broth sauce 5. Crysanthemum leaves with fermented tofu sauce 3/5 On the salty side All in all, even though I came for the peking duck, I found that the other items were much better!

    When I first heard of Great China, I assumed it would be more of a casual neighborhood mom-and-pop…read morespot, but I was definitely wrong. It's actually a popular, higher-end Chinese restaurant in downtown Berkeley, and judging by the number of people waiting to be seated on a weekend only 30 minutes after opening, it clearly does very well. One note: I often see long weekend lines forming even before opening, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation or arriving early. We came here with one thing in mind: Peking duck. It was prepared beautifully, with the exact nostalgic flavor and crispy skin I was hoping for. I also loved the way they presented the thin pancakes--half-folded and slightly overlapping each other--so you didn't have to worry about peeling each layer apart and accidentally ripping them. The dipping sauce and green onions were provided on the side, though I do wish they included thinly sliced cucumber to complete the experience. My husband also ordered the fish, which turned out soft, delicate, and delicious. It was a nice complement to the duck and rounded out the meal really well. My only real critique of Great China is the pricing. You're definitely paying a premium here, but the food does taste authentic and well-executed. Given the limited competition in the area, I can see why it feels justifiable if you live nearby. That said, it may not be as worth the splurge for people who already have easy access to more traditional, old-school Chinese restaurants.

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    Great China - 7/13/25 FYI. Interior.

    7/13/25 FYI. Interior.

    Great China - Eggplant with Hot Garlic Sauce. This dish was delicious with balanced flavors and textures. Not hot.

    Eggplant with Hot Garlic Sauce. This dish was delicious with balanced flavors and textures. Not hot.

    Great China - Busy night

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    Busy night

    Dough Zone Dumpling House - chinese - Updated September 2026

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