Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Dumpling Bar

    4.0 (305 reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Noodles, Soup
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Dumpling Bar Takeout or Delivery

    Dumpling Bar Photos

    Business Info

    DUMPLING BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

    More like Dumpling Bar

    Recommended Reviews - Dumpling Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ice cream
    Allison L.

    Came here to try their AYCE! It was $35 for a Sunday and includes soft drinks/milk tea and ice cream. We came right at 11AM opening so we were seated right away, but it quickly filled up inside Pork chop scallion noodle (5/5): DELICIOUS! The noodles were so savory and flavorful and not overly oily. The pork chop was crispy and juicy, not dry Shrimp dumplings aka har gow (4/5): your standard har gow Pork soup dumplings XLB (4.5/5): juicy and had good flavor, I think the skin was a bit thick Beef wonton w/ chili sauce (2/5): more spicy than savory and didn't have much flavor besides the spice Veggie egg rolls (5/5): hot and crispy! I liked the filling Garlic butter edamame (5/5): the garlic butter was so yummy! We devoured this. Edamame had a nice crunch Cucumber salad (3/5): alright, a bit sour Beef pot stickers (4/5): had a nice crisp on the bottom, tasted very meaty to me Chinese churro (5/5): basically a long crispy Chinese donut (youtiao) with powdered sugar, which was my first time having this combo. It was so good! Crispy, fresh and not too sweet Custard buns (4/5): typical custard buns, they took a while but came out hot and fresh Service was good, they checked on us often. Portions were full-size so we were stuffed! The dishes did take a while to come out, but you can tell they make everything fresh. Interior is spacious and clean. One of the better choices for Chinese AYCE!

    Meg C.

    We tried the AYCE dumplings at Dumpling Bar and overall it was a decent experience. The concept is great if you're really craving dumplings and want to try a variety. The food was okay--nothing that really stood out, but still satisfying enough if you're hungry. Service was also just alright. Not bad, but not particularly memorable either. Everything came out in a reasonable time. Overall, I'd give it 4 stars--it's a good spot if you're in the mood for all-you-can-eat dumplings, but I wouldn't say it's a must-try.

    Bao Tea Combo
    Jane A.

    DUMPLINGS IN ENCINITAS (4.5 stats) - FOOD: good - PRICE: fair - SERVICE: excellent - AMBIANCE: cute ... was a good pick for lunch. And nice to see the food scene diversifying outward from their downtown area. It's located in a plaza with kind of ample parking. The restaurant is small but very cute and clean - section area watching them make fresh dumplings. Came mainly for one item because "it's cute" and didn't have much expectations only to have left surprised and delighted. This place is a dumpling bar, similar food concept to DTF but not DTF. CUCUMBER SALAD ($6.50) - this was very refreshing to eat and they put the right amount of oil/dressing on top where you still taste most of the freshness of the cucumber with light glazed flavor of the oil/dressing. RECOMMEND BAO TEA COMBO ($17.95) - THIS is what I came for. You have two choices of boba, green tea or brown sugar... I went with the green tea but heard the brown sugar was more popular. The container had about 6 big dumplings and they were actually very good. I usually don't like big dumplings but these were acceptable, dumpling wrapper was not too thick, and the meat filling inside had good taste and juicy - yes juicy! I was afraid that after a little while the dumpling was going to get hard and chewy but it didn't and they stayed soft and elastic. If comparing to DTF, it's not as delicate BUT it's good. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Will def be back to try other things off their menu. Excited this opened and glad it's not in Convoy. Until the next review

    Bea P.

    The rating is 3.4 We went on a Saturday for lunch and the wait time was about 45 minutes to an hour. You can opt for the all you can eat which includes everything on the menu except for 3 items (bao tea combo, hot jasmine tea, and san Pellegrino water) marked or order a la carte. We decided to do AYCE for $34.99 per person (Fri-Sun) to get the full experience. You can only order 2 items per person per round. We started off with the pork and crab xlb, shumai and har gow. The xlbs were good except the skin was on the thicker side. The shumai and har gow were okay. Next we ordered the chicken wontons in chili sauce which was more on the tangy side than we liked and well as the cucumber salad which was below average due to the tanginess and lack of proper seasoning. Also had the crispy fried pork chop which was mid. The beef potstickers were okay and the brown sugar milk tea was not as special as their star drink, the green boba milk tea. The star were their steamed custard buns and green boba milk tea!! They definitely were on point for those. The steamed buns were soft and the green boba milk tea was perfect! The staff was nice but they were really busy throughout so you have to try get their attention if you need something. The space is small but it worked for them. Overall, the quality of dim sum is what you'd expect to see at an all you can eat restaurant. A lot of the dishes were sadly a bit disappointing for us.

    Mitchell C.

    I've never seen a XLB AYCE anywhere, not even in the OC or LA. The quality was actually pretty good, I was surprised how good. I've lived in Taiwan, I've lived in Singapore, this price for this quality was shocking. Like, AYCE sushi bars have terrible quality. This was good with great table service. Unlimited boba milk tea as well. Been multiple times now... my new favorite local "bar!"

    Sharon B.

    $35 for AYCE dumplings! We went here for lunch and decided to do their AYCE. Everyone at the table had to participate. Almost everyting on the menu is included so that was nice. You can order 2 items per person at a time and have a 2 hour window. We started with the cucumber salad, beef short ribs, and Taiwanese beef noodle soup. All good. We ordered the steamed crab and the pork xiaolong bao. We prefer the pork over the crab. I did like their shrimp hai cao dumplings and we ordered a few of those. The food was good but we weren't blown away. I think if you order them a la carte, prices were a bit high for the quantity of the dishes too. We did order the pan fried xiao long bao dumplings and they came out raw inside. The were cooked and crispy on the outside but completely raw inside. I think they forgot to steam it first. Totally disgusting! Service was good but understaffed as others have mentioned. There was one young man was taking care of everyone in the restaurant.

    Sally T.

    Came hungry to AYCE and this place was so worth it for $31.99. You really can't beat that pricing. The service was amazing. We asked Chrissie for recommendations and everything she suggested was fire, especially the custard and chocolate buns. She went above and beyond for us and I hope she's our server next time! We had the ribs, cucumbers (), rib soup, beef wontons, pork bao, and more. Every dish hit. Absolutely worth the drive. It's in a great area with tons of parking too.

    Pork XLB(6pcs)
    Kim V.

    This was a good halfway point for my friend and I to meet. I'd say 3.5 stars, mainly because it took a while for all the food to come out. Pros: Food is good and made fresh. Lots of parking. XLB - Tasty and well made Eggrolls - crispy and full of flavor Beef dumplings - executed well Crispy Pork Chop on scallion oil noodle - good amount of food. Pork chop was indeed crispy and noodles had a nice bite Fried Rice - pretty good fried rice (not pictured) Cons: the service is slow. Slow enough that my stomach felt satiated before my entree (noodles) came out. We shared the dumplings and eggrolls, but it took over 20 min from our first to last dish. The upside of this is that I got to spend time with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. Also, I definitely didn't overeat, and ended up taking the noodles home. They reheated pretty well. Bottom line: If you are in a rush, you might want to order take out. If you have the time to spare, come in, take a load off and enjoy the food/company (even if it is just you!)

    April L.

    Stopped in at around 5:30pm on a friday and there were lots of open seats, but noticed it quickly filled up by 6pm. We opted for the ayce which was $35 per person. We got the Pork XLB both the normal one and pan fried one- each came with 6 pieces. I will say slightly doughy, but both filled with a good amount of meat so can't complain there. I personally liked the pan fried a bit more and was probably one of my favorites of the night. The Shumai comes in 4 and was very good. The beef dumplings were also tasty and not too spicy even though they came with chili sauce. The fried rice was just ok- honestly a bit dry and not enough flavor. The lo mai gai was also ok, decent size but that and the fried rice is probably too much rice for two people. Edamame was ok, but prefer just salted edamame. The steamed bbq pork buns also also had a bit too much bun and the bbq pork was not my favorite- but I will say I am more of a baked bbq pork bun gal. Chocolate and custard buns were good for dessert- lots of filling! Overall, pretty good for ayce and would definitely come again- but focus on the dumplings!!

    Presh N.

    I tried this place because I've been seriously craving dim sum, and a friend shared it on Instagram. We decided to do the AYCE dim sum option, which let us try almost everything on the menu, including dim sum, soups, appetizers, and drinks, for $34.99 (we went on a Sunday). The standout dishes for me were the shu mai, BBQ ribs, cucumber salad, and the chocolate bun. I also loved that soft drinks and boba milk teas were included in the AYCE, which was a nice bonus. They even include ice cream to end the meal. It's a bit of a drive for me, but I'd definitely make the trip again for the food.

    Kryssa I.

    Quick service, clean restaurant, average food. I didn't think the dumplings were bad, but it's nothing to write home about. Beef pot stickers were okay; I think it was missing some seasoning or something. Bbq pork buns was okay. Again, nothing spectacular, but not bad either. Shrimp har gao was the best of what we ordered, but I've had better elsewhere. It's a nice quick space to stop for lunch; especially if you're trying to save some belly space for dessert.

    Steamed Chocolate Bun(1pcs)
    Heather R.

    Tried the AYCE part of the menu. Got the poke XLB, tasty, cucumber salad, sweet and sour ribs, shumai (not my favorite) fried rice and egg drop soup, ended with a chocolate bun. We had ordered green beans but they never came so just decided to skip them. It was a bit unorganized, they kept bringing us food that wasn't ours. Sent double orders of things we only wanted one of and no green beans, I had to ask a few times for my Diet Coke then they brought it said- they would get me cup with ice and didn't return. It's a small restaurant and it does get busy, luckily we got right in before the crowd. Service needs improvement, food is overall good. Will try again.

    Soy Noodle Salad
    Alyssa S.

    Very nice first experience here. Soy noodle salad is super tasty. Vegan dumplings are yummy but I'd rather there's 8 dumplings for this price instead of 6. Will order from here again!

    Beef Pot Stickers(6pcs)

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shuai L.

    Shuai L.

    Meg, thank you for your review. happy new year!

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jane A.
    399
    2738
    6298

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bea P.
    166
    378
    3076

    2 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kim V.
    330
    559
    2886

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shuai L.

    Shuai L.

    Thanks

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shuai L.

    Shuai L.

    Thank you so much!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shuai L.

    Shuai L.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gilbert C.
    224
    90
    117

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shuai L.

    Shuai L.

    glad you like our food. Thank you for your support!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    This place is amazing. Such great food and service. Good location and had great Ambiance.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kari L.
    0
    107
    79

    17 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shuai L.

    Shuai L.

    Char, thanks for the review. hope to see you soon,

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rob H.
    98
    33
    10

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 8

    Dumpling Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dumpling Bar

    Do kids get charged for ayce?

    Do they serve alcohol yet?

    Not yet!

    Do yoi take reservations?

    Right now, we don’t take reservations. Thanks

    Is July 8 opening date to open? I keep wondering if it will actually happen?

    Yes, on July 8, 2025

    When will you open?

    The planning soft open day is 09/16 Monday!

    Hi! I would love to know if there's an updated opening date?

    When is it expected to open?

    Thank you for asking. You can expect our restaurant to be open around the end of February.

    View All 14 Questions

    CHIKO - Fried rice // ribeye & rice cakes // spicy soy wings // potstickers // orange-ish chicken

    CHIKO

    (748 reviews)

    $$

    for nearly two years, Scout, my orange, husky-looking mut and I have been driving by their…read morenow-shuttered Encinitas location four times a week after playdates at Power Lines Dog Park. every time we do, I think "we gotta back there for another visit." pretty sure CHIKO has aged out of my draft queue. now that I've finally gotten around to finishing the review, they've been closed for months. in the draft, I suggested CHIKO might not be a destination restaurant, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, it's definitely a place worth stopping by for eats. if you wait long enough, like I did, the nearest ones are in the DC area and probably not worth a cross-country trip. sad.

    Post-mortem... I was sad to hear that CHIKO permanently closed their doors at the end of last year…read more It's rare for an East Coast based Asian chain restaurant to migrate to California, but that was what CHIKO did. As noted by its name, this place served a fusion of Chinese and Korean cuisines. Their Encinitas location took over what used to be a roadside diner along N Coast Hwy 101. The seating capacity was less than 40 people which included a few high-top counter spots. At my last visit, I came for a late dinner before their closing time. A large menu was posted on the wall behind the service counter that listed about two dozen food offerings. The items seemed to be comfort food like pot stickers, spring rolls, fried rice, and chicken wings but flavored with unique combinations of seasonings and spices. I started my meal with the Marinated Beef Tri-Tip Skewers which came as a set of three and a Chinese mustard for dipping. The meat was very tender and well-seasoned. I also ordered the Cumin Lamb Stir Fry which the cashier said was medium spicy. After tasting a couple of bites of the noodles from the serving bowl, I agreed that the heat level was moderate, even for my palate. I thought the portion size should have been more for the price. That was my main criticism for both items, otherwise the food was solid for an Asian fusion eatery.

    Urbane Cafe - Tofu Bahn Mi

    Urbane Cafe

    (338 reviews)

    $$

    Places are big and chill. I gave 3 stars because my soup is luke warm or not even. Is like 3/10 for…read morethe temperature likewise. I like my soup to be hot at least warm. Not like boiling hot but it just "cold" for me and is on a cup for $8? I try the NEW salmon bowl. Supposedly come with the sauce which I don't know but they gave it to me once I finish my bowl and I don't really needed I guess. I can understand the customer service likewise but again it just the food itself and not that fresh, rice was cold as well and took longer to made. There is only 1 person working at that time I don't for the wait time it just the food taste for me. For one time try is ok I might give it a try again in the future. The thing I love for first time try here is the bread only. Is savory. They need to clean all the table and sanitize as well each time customer leave. I Will try again in the future.

    It's a very attractive restaurant but we ordered our food to go. It was ready on time and we…read morereceived exactly what we ordered. The Santa Maria BBQ sandwich has good BBQ flavor, although it won't be winning any awards in any BBQ contests. It comes with bacon, cheese, slaw, and dressing. It's a solid choice. The Club sandwich is also very good. It comes turkey, bacon, avocado, cheese, and some various veggies. Both sandwiches came with a very nice and fresh side salad. The bread here is obviously made fresh. If you order on the app, first time users get a freshly-baked cookie. And that cookie is very good. Solid choice for very fresh sandwiches and an excellent cookie.

    Plumeria - Eggplant with Steamed Tofu

    Plumeria

    (496 reviews)

    $$

    Plumeria on 101 was amazing! I recently tried the Plumeria in University Heights, so I was excited…read moreto try the one here in Encinitas. Needless to say, this one was just as great. Food: I ordered the Panang curry with boiled tofu, and it was so flavorful, warm, and comforting. It was a bit too spicy for me (I should have asked for an adjustment), but I definitely recommend. My friend and I shared the spring rolls (the peanut sauce was warm and very flavorful) and the mango sticky rice (one of the best I have - sweet and salty, creamy). Service/Ambiance: My friend and I went when it was a little less busy and it was raining outside, so we were able to sit inside! Service was great - very kind, attentive staff. And the inside of this place has very cool decor - great ambiance! Vegan: Overall, this was a great place for vegans/vegetarians and meat eaters alike. They had mock meats for meat eaters and those who are curious to try, but also had options for extra veggies, tofu, and chickpeas/beans. Will definitely bring my vegan/vegetarian friends here. Excited to come back and try different dishes!

    Changing star rating after server/kitchen error. Order vegan veg tofu "flower cups" , 1st item on…read moretop of menu but they served the "tuna flower cups" version. They looked and smelled very fishy, too tuna fish-like for us. Complained to server and pointed out several times on menu what I ordered and the difference between the two. It was as if they were trying to convince me they were the same, seemed like they didn't want to go the trouble of remaking them, but did after I insisted. Much better. Also mentioned we were there for a birthday but they did nothing special food-wise, no embellishment to plate nor complementary dessert for birthday person which was a bit disappointing considering many places do.

    One More Bite Dumpling House - Pork Dumplings

    One More Bite Dumpling House

    (313 reviews)

    $$

    After spending our Sunday morning enjoying Discovery Lake and hiking its trails, we decided to have…read morelunch at the nearby Campus Pointe II Plaza. There were many dining options on site, and ultimately we decided on One More Bite after seeing a cook making dumplings behind a glass wall, assuring us they were authentic and the dumplings were not from stores. The restaurant, with its modern Asian décor, was clean and quite spacious, with seating for 70+ guests. The friendly staff guided us to our table and brough water and menu right away. After browsing its extensive menu, we ordered the following dishes: Popcorn Fried Chicken: The chicken pieces were lightly battered, tasty, crispy, and mildly spicy. Pork Xiao Long Bao: This is the quintessential dish of any dumpling house and theirs was spot on. The delicate outer wrap was flawlessly steamed without any tearing, perfectly trapping the juicy broth inside. The filling was well seasoned and with very nice texture. Boiled Shrimp and Pork Dumplings: The outer layers were not soggy or overly boiled, retaining its firm but delicate texture. The filling was savory and a tad sweet. Shrimp and Pork Wonton Soup with Udon: The broth was light but flavorful, with a hint of pleasant white pepper aroma. The thick udon noodles were nicely al dente. The wontons, with savory filling, had slightly thick wraps. Rainbow Vegetable Pan Fried Dumplings: The colorful wraps really accentuated these dumplings. The outer layer had a nice firmness on top and a beautifully crispy bottom. The well minced filling was lightly seasoned and soft. Brown Sugar Rice Cakes: The rice cakes were quickly fried, creating a golden outer layer and pleasantly chewy inside. The drizzled brown sugar provided the sweet kick. Coconut Cream Balls: The fried outer layer was crunchy, and the runny coconut cream inside was not overly sweet. Overall, it was a very enjoyable lunch experience.

    As everyone said, parking is limited…read more Food was overpriced and not as great as everyone described it. They did tailor the boba drink to make it less sweet or to leave out cheese. We ordered a mango boba drink (no real mango in it), the vegetable bao, the cucumber appetizer (have had better), two noodle dishes that had dumplings in them. The dumplings had some weird taste (like old or something). I didn't quite like them. Have had better. We really enjoyed mostly the vegetable bao but wouldn't go back just for this itemx

    Dumpling Bar - chinese - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...