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Spontaneously decided to have dinner here last night after watching a show at the Wang Theatre. When I was revisiting their menu and looking at reviews after so long, I noticed they have a beef longhorn pepper noodle soup, which I've never seen on other menus before. From what I understand, this might be the only place that makes this dish, and it is so delicious. I'm somebody who likes really spicy food, so I can reassure you this is not spicy at all, but it's very comforting and filling. I'm raving about the soup because the noodle quality is different and delicious. I feel like this would be a really great comfort meal on a cold day. I asked for chili oil, and it was a good-quality, flavorful one. The inside is clean, and when it comes to service, you should not expect too much. This is a busy place--you just ask for what you want, and they will give it to you. I got the salted crispy shrimp, which was also tasty and mild. None of the food was too spicy. I also got the salted fish with chicken fried rice, which I recommend to everyone who likes savory food. I think this restaurant has a very balanced flavor profile, so it's not overwhelmingly flavorful--anyone would like to eat here.
This place isn't the best for customer service! So, be prepared to ask for napkins, straws and ice. But let's talk about the food. Because it is what I was most excited about. I ordered the soup dumplings and the fried dumplings with pork. Annnnnnnnd they were amazing! The food came out quickly, piping hot and extremely fresh. The soup dumplings were the most satisfying. The broth was well seasoned and unforgettably delicious. The crisp bottom of the fried dumplings were the best.
Been coming here 15 years or so, off/on. For me the highlights are just a few: either D1 Braised Beef Brisket Noodle Soup with Spinach, or D2 Noodle Soup with Shredded Beef with Green Longhorn Pepper, and the Guo Tie. D1 is beef noodle soup that is commonly found at Taiwanese places... but D2 is really hard to find, and Dumpling Cafe absolutely crushes it every time. Key elements to D2: - a different broth, lighter & less salty than D1 - actual Green Longhorn peppers (not substituted with Shishito, Jalapeño, bell, Serrano, or Anaheim) - both the beef strips and the Green Longhorns should be wok-tossed and slightly charred prior to soupification - al dente noodles It is simple to make but easy to mess up, and DIFFICULT to find one that's made as beautifully as this one. Often if a place has both this and the standard beef noodle soup, the longhorn pepper one will use the same soup. That's wrong! Then, the guo tie. These guys freshly wrap the filling and fry it. These aren't frozen dumplings. It'll take some time for them to produce them. That's the point. Don't be put off by the large amount of non-Asians who are constantly in here. Dumpling Cafe does great Americanized favorites too. Service is terse and to the point; ambience too, but that's part of the charm. I've eaten Chinese across China, in Flushing, SVG, Vancouver and elsewhere and always make it back to Boston for the D2.
My favorite was their pan-fried dumplings and oyster pancake. I ordered online to avoid their service. They give attitudes, especially the waitress. She was trying to place an order for me even though I told her I was here to pick up and place my order online. I repeat, I am here for pick up, and she told me I should let her know so she doesn't have to send the order to the kitchen. Food is ok since I have not been here for years, but the service, sigh.
It's alright. Nothing like what was hyped up on social media though. This was my first time here so I don't know how busy it can get, but it was absolutely dead at 9 on a Thursday night. Like most recent reviews say the service is very transactional and they require a $10 minimum spend per person, so we were forced to order something we weren't really in the mood for. Soup dumplings were solid! No complaints there. Shrimp fried rice was skimpy on the veggies and shrimp but had decent flavor.
The pork and leek fried dumplings were DE-LICIOUS! I'm not a huge pot sticker girl but I will be back in the next two days before we leave! My husband said he could eat the beef juicy buns every day too! The place is very unassuming and small, not much for ambiance, but with those dumplings... who cares. The server barely spoke to us, but got it done. One of the people that delivered the food was a bit friendlier- we got a smile out of her. The food was quick and very hot. Loved it!
Exactly what you'd expect from a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown: no frills, acceptable service, and good food. The four of us split the pork soup dumplings, beef with peppers, pan fried noodles, and Shanghai bok choy. This amount was plenty of food and each dish hit the spot. Service was efficient and our waters were always filled. Would definitely come back for some tasty food!
I only tried the taiwan dumplings and they were ok. Could have had more flavor and dough could have been thinner and more delicate. noodles looked good on other people' plates but ran out of time to try, waiters was nice but she looked so exhausted and worn out and depressed, maybe overworked
Dry fatty and not hot. Ordered grilled pork app w a side of rice. Very busy, should have ordered something else. Traveling solo, just wanted a quick bite. Disappointed.
I really enjoy their food, authentic, delicious, fast, and fresh. Service HORRIBLE. Don't come here if you and your friend just want to try something on the menu, cause they will deny you table service if you don't spend minimum $10 per person at the table. I guess that's a thing now? Maybe I'm late? Ambiance is fun city dim sum. I hate that the service is so terrible, but who cares cause the food is awesome.
No frills authentic chinese place in tucked away in Chinatown. I would say service is not the best but they get the job done. I only come here for dumplings and this place is really a hidden gem for dumplings. The flavor for all three kinds is perfect and not overpowering. My personal favorite is the pan fried ones. Affordable and you get a good portion for the price you pay too. Maybe one day I will try the other dishes that's on the menu other than dumplings. But this place is gonna be my go-to place for dumplings. -9/10 solely for dumplings
Food was delicious ! But service just made the experience bad. Server was a younger girl, very rude energy , made me feel unwelcome . And she asked for her tip by putting out her hand & took my cash without saying thank you. Sorry, won't come back here !
Just ate at this restaurant. It surprised us how good the food is based on both the review ratings as well as the look of the establishment. We ordered what typically Chinese people would order and they were all very good. I would say that the ratings are off and if you're in Chinatown, definitely stop by and try this place.
My friend and I were craving dumplings so we came to Chinatown and stopped in here. It's a popular spot as there was a bit of a line waiting for tables and lots of food delivery people coming in and out. We ordered the scallion pancakes, chicken dumplings and Taiwan rice cakes, which they were kind enough to sub the pork for chicken. The food was good as well as the service. They brought out everything we wanted and needed. The skin on the chicken dumplings were thicker than I am used to and the scallion pancake was also quite thick and dense, but the flavors were good! read more
Spontaneously decided to have dinner here last night after watching a show at the Wang Theatre. When I was revisiting their menu and looking at reviews after so long, I noticed they have a beef longhorn pepper noodle soup, which I've never seen on other menus before. From what I understand, this might be the only place that makes this dish, and it is so delicious. I'm somebody who likes really spicy food, so I can reassure you this is not spicy at all, but it's very comforting and filling. I'm raving about the soup because the noodle quality is different and delicious. I feel like this would be a really great comfort meal on a cold day. I asked for chili oil, and it was a good-quality, flavorful one. The inside is clean, and when it comes to service, you should not expect too much. This is a busy place--you just ask for what you want, and they will give it to you. I got the salted crispy shrimp, which was also tasty and mild. None of the food was too spicy. I also got the salted fish with chicken fried rice, which I recommend to everyone who likes savory food. I think this restaurant has a very balanced flavor profile, so it's not overwhelmingly flavorful--anyone would like to eat here. read more
1 year ago
This place isn't the best for customer service! So, be prepared to ask for napkins, straws and ice. But let's talk about the food. Because it is what I was most excited about. I ordered the soup dumplings and the fried dumplings with pork. Annnnnnnnd they were amazing! The food came out quickly, piping hot and extremely fresh. The soup dumplings were the most satisfying. The broth was well seasoned and unforgettably delicious. The crisp bottom of the fried dumplings were the best. read more
10 months ago
Been coming here 15 years or so, off/on. For me the highlights are just a few: either D1 Braised Beef Brisket Noodle Soup with Spinach, or D2 Noodle Soup with Shredded Beef with Green Longhorn Pepper, and the Guo Tie. D1 is beef noodle soup that is commonly found at Taiwanese places... but D2 is really hard to find, and Dumpling Cafe absolutely crushes it every time. Key elements to D2: - a different broth, lighter & less salty than D1 - actual Green Longhorn peppers (not substituted with Shishito, Jalapeño, bell, Serrano, or Anaheim) - both the beef strips and the Green Longhorns should be wok-tossed and slightly charred prior to soupification - al dente noodles It is simple to make but easy to mess up, and DIFFICULT to find one that's made as beautifully as this one. Often if a place has both this and the standard beef noodle soup, the longhorn pepper one will use the same soup. That's wrong! Then, the guo tie. These guys freshly wrap the filling and fry it. These aren't frozen dumplings. It'll take some time for them to produce them. That's the point. Don't be put off by the large amount of non-Asians who are constantly in here. Dumpling Cafe does great Americanized favorites too. Service is terse and to the point; ambience too, but that's part of the charm. I've eaten Chinese across China, in Flushing, SVG, Vancouver and elsewhere and always make it back to Boston for the D2. read more
2 years ago
My favorite was their pan-fried dumplings and oyster pancake. I ordered online to avoid their service. They give attitudes, especially the waitress. She was trying to place an order for me even though I told her I was here to pick up and place my order online. I repeat, I am here for pick up, and she told me I should let her know so she doesn't have to send the order to the kitchen. Food is ok since I have not been here for years, but the service, sigh. read more
It's alright. Nothing like what was hyped up on social media though. This was my first time here so I don't know how busy it can get, but it was absolutely dead at 9 on a Thursday night. Like most recent reviews say the service is very transactional and they require a $10 minimum spend per person, so we were forced to order something we weren't really in the mood for. Soup dumplings were solid! No complaints there. Shrimp fried rice was skimpy on the veggies and shrimp but had decent flavor. read more
1 year ago
The pork and leek fried dumplings were DE-LICIOUS! I'm not a huge pot sticker girl but I will be back in the next two days before we leave! My husband said he could eat the beef juicy buns every day too! The place is very unassuming and small, not much for ambiance, but with those dumplings... who cares. The server barely spoke to us, but got it done. One of the people that delivered the food was a bit friendlier- we got a smile out of her. The food was quick and very hot. Loved it! read more
2 years ago
Exactly what you'd expect from a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown: no frills, acceptable service, and good food. The four of us split the pork soup dumplings, beef with peppers, pan fried noodles, and Shanghai bok choy. This amount was plenty of food and each dish hit the spot. Service was efficient and our waters were always filled. Would definitely come back for some tasty food! read more
7 months ago
I only tried the taiwan dumplings and they were ok. Could have had more flavor and dough could have been thinner and more delicate. noodles looked good on other people' plates but ran out of time to try, waiters was nice but she looked so exhausted and worn out and depressed, maybe overworked read more
2 years ago
I really enjoy their food, authentic, delicious, fast, and fresh. Service HORRIBLE. Don't come here if you and your friend just want to try something on the menu, cause they will deny you table service if you don't spend minimum $10 per person at the table. I guess that's a thing now? Maybe I'm late? Ambiance is fun city dim sum. I hate that the service is so terrible, but who cares cause the food is awesome. read more
6 months ago
No frills authentic chinese place in tucked away in Chinatown. I would say service is not the best but they get the job done. I only come here for dumplings and this place is really a hidden gem for dumplings. The flavor for all three kinds is perfect and not overpowering. My personal favorite is the pan fried ones. Affordable and you get a good portion for the price you pay too. Maybe one day I will try the other dishes that's on the menu other than dumplings. But this place is gonna be my go-to place for dumplings. -9/10 solely for dumplings read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
Food was delicious ! But service just made the experience bad. Server was a younger girl, very rude energy , made me feel unwelcome . And she asked for her tip by putting out her hand & took my cash without saying thank you. Sorry, won't come back here ! read more
7 months ago
Just ate at this restaurant. It surprised us how good the food is based on both the review ratings as well as the look of the establishment. We ordered what typically Chinese people would order and they were all very good. I would say that the ratings are off and if you're in Chinatown, definitely stop by and try this place. read more
6 months ago
3 months ago
Came here while staying at the HI Hostel in Boston after a long trip, and it was amazing! The dumplings here tasted amazing and were so filling. They were so filling I had to take two to go and have them for breakfast! For the price you pay you're getting very filling food. The egg drop soup was also very nice and delicious! Very authentic food made with care and left me satisfied! The service was also very good. Great staff, great work ethic, and super friendly and attentive. Made me feel appreciated and enjoy my time at the cafe. The ambiance was also very nice, great atmosphere to have a quiet meal. Many people yet the tone is very pleasant and quiet as everyone enjoys their food! Will come back when I'm in Boston! read more
8 months ago
9 months ago
A decent place if you're hungry. It'll get the job done to fill you up, and quite personally speing rolls and crab rangoons did enough of the trick. For a place called "Dumpling Cafe" their dumplings were just average for me. It was a bit too wet with not as much flavor bursting from it. The crab rangoons did have a nice taste to them but there were too deep fried. It needed to be taken out of the frying pan a minute or two sooner. The frying to it was of the consistency of scallion pancakes. As for the spring rolls, they were searing hot from the oil but had a nice crunch and the filling was good. In regards to the service, the staff isn't friendly but just very transactional. They are likely over-worked and probably tired from working long shifts which I can't blame them, but a simple "hi" or "good night" would make a difference. read more
2 years ago
We decided to pop into the Dumpling cafe as we walked around China Town. We decided to try the squid teppanyaki skewers and the pork pan fried dumplings. The price was extremely reasonable and both dishes were very flavorful. Out of the two, I would have to say the dumplings were my favorite. If you need your dumplings fix, definitely give this place a try. read more
2 years ago
I've come here a few times for Chinese and have found some really good dishes! Some are hit or miss but overall I've been pretty satisfied here. I don't remember the prices but they definitely weren't horrible. Service is rough. read more
2 years ago
My mom and I walk here from our hotel for some late night Chinese food at the dumpling café and got seated right away had some excellent hot and sour soup, chicken wings, teriyaki beef and even lo mein. We ended up getting to know a couple other Irish people so it also became an opportunity to socialize since we sat at the Long table in the middle of the restaurant. I highly recommend you choose the spot for your late night After dancing Chinese food experience. read more
11 months ago
6 months ago
I'm surprised to see the 3 star rating. Dumpling Cafe has some of the best Chinese food in the area. We ordered Clam with Ginger and Scallion, Beef with Long Hom Peppers, Yang Chow Fried Rice, Ma Po Tofu, and Pork Soup Dumplings. Everything is flavored really well, a bit on the saltier side but it was not overwhelming. The service was pretty fast too. I look forward to coming back and trying more items on the menu! read more
4 years ago
A decent place for Chinese comfort food, especially with how many options they provide. We loved how large the portion sizes were so we didn't get too much food. However, if you eat meat, we recommend getting meat dishes w veggies because the veggies dishes on their own is about the same price, so ordering this way can be better value. We also got their soup dumplings, and the dough was a little too thick but still tasted ok. The soup that was in the dumpling had a bunch of impurities, and normally this shouldn't happen so it felt a little awkward to eat. Everything was pretty standard, nothing blew us away and prices were a little high, but still a good place to eat. read more
4 years ago
Late night Taiwanese restaurant with plentiful dumpling options. Came here with family on a Saturday evening for an early dinner around 6pm and got seated immediately. Indoor dining only, no outdoor option. Takeout is also available. Masks required. They do serve alcohol (there's Tsingtao). Credit cards are accepted. We got four dishes for the four of us, and that was a good amount of food. My mom particularly loved the pork fried rice, and since she is a fried rice fiend, that's high praise coming from her. The xiao long bao had a really thick skin and not a ton of broth inside, but they were very large. The fried dumplings were good. The Taiwanese beef noodle soup was alright as well; you can customize the noodle so for those who are picky about noodle thickness, you're good there. It's a small space so it may be harder to get a table during standard dining times, but we were in and out of there within an hour. Overall, a good option to eat at if you're in Chinatown. read more
On a weekday night, too lazy to cook, I ventured over to Dumpling Cafe for a quick dinner. After receiving seating for myself immediately, I ordered and received my food w/in 10 minutes. The 紅燒牛腩麵 / Braised Beef Brisket Noodles Soup w. Spinach ($11.95) proved underwhelming. While the portion size seemed decent, the soup broth tasted lacking. The various aromatics used in the beef's braising liquid, which would eventually become the soup broth as well, lacked the flavors of aromatics, such as star anise. Oddly, the broth tasted sweet - as if someone had put in MSG and sugar to boost the flavor (probably more sugar than MSG, as the broth's savoriness proved too light). The pickled mustard, a staple garnish of Taiwanese beef noodle soup, seemed to have lost its pickling at some point in time; consequently, it barely had flavor. I also ordered 蔥油餅 / Scallion Pancake ($9.95) as an appetizer, not expecting to finish it all. The scallion pancakes possessed a dearth of scallion and also had not been pan fried long enough to become crispy. It ended tasted like a slightly undercooked salted dough. I took half of it home, though wondered on another day if I should have just tossed it. Overall, I would rate the scallion pancakes a 1*. The beef noodle soup could be either a 1* or a 2*, since at least the portion size could have a value argument. Nonetheless, I doubt I will return. read more
4 years ago
Came on a Thursday at 2pm w a gf after I saw it on tik tok. It was kinda dead hour, but staff was nice. The C11 (the mini juicy pork soup dumplings) were amazing. Also got the D1 (braised beef brisket noodle soup with Spinach) and pork and leek dumplings. I wish the brisket had more leaned bits but loved the soup. Comfort food with a nice tang. Come for the soup dumplings! You won't regret it read more
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More info about Dumpling Cafe
695 Washington St
Boston, MA 02111
Chinatown
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(617) 338-8858
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https://dumplingcafe.com
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Ask the Community - Dumpling Cafe
Is Dumpling Cafe open? I've been calling and trying to order online maybe 3-4 times in recent weeks. Phone just rings and online ordering is closed. Guessing they're closed?
It's still open. I ate there last week.
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