June 2026 -- Berkeley, CA Dumplings for the Deadline Damned…read more Dumpling Express, not far from UC Berkeley, has the kind of facade that says: we are not here to seduce you with ambiance; we are here to prevent your blood sugar from collapsing during midterms. The exterior is a pale green, low-drama storefront with a metal roofline, a modest hanging sign, a couple of sidewalk tables, and a general visual philosophy best described as "handmade dumplings, not handmade branding strategy." It looks less like a restaurant trying to be discovered and more like a temporary work-in-progress bungalow that decided to become permanent, with the rust swirling in like Berkeley's unofficial architectural signature. Naturally, this makes it more trustworthy. My review is based on an Uber Eats pickup order, which feels like the correct way to encounter this place. Dumpling Express appears mostly built for takeout: fast, practical, compact, and run by one kind master behind the counter surrounded by enough BTU's, condiments, steam, and ingredients to power a graduate seminar and three emotionally unstable group projects. Service was reliable. The food came packed in plastic containers that held heat well but were still easy to open and close, meaning you could theoretically eat this while driving. Should you? No. Could you? Tragically, yes. Berkeley has witnessed worse experiments in applied ethics. We ordered four items. The egg rolls were shockingly generous. One order could probably feed a four-person study group, or one economics major after discovering rent is not a theoretical construct. They were pretty good: crisp, not overly greasy, almost light. Flavor-wise, they were not exactly writing a dissertation, but they showed up to class. 3/5. The XLB tasted good, but they were not classic soup dumplings in the strict "I have traveled, I own opinions, and I have been hurt before" sense. The wrapper was not especially thin, and there was not enough of that dangerous, piping-hot broth that makes you question your dental insurance. Still, the flavor was pleasant. I did not feel betrayed. Merely academically unconvinced. 3/5. The chicken and cabbage dumplings were fine. A little bland, yes, but not bad, especially for cheap eats near campus. They are the dumpling equivalent of a decent discussion section: not life-changing, not offensive, and useful if you are hungry and trying to survive the week. 3/5. The clear star was the sesame ball with red bean filling. Crispy, warm, gooey, sweet, and deeply correct. This was the one item that stood up, adjusted its tiny sesame-covered blazer, and delivered an argument worthy of tenure. Excellent. 5/5. Overall, Dumpling Express is an excellent value spot for students, quick lunches, late study nights, and anyone needing hot food without emotional paperwork. For well-traveled adults chasing transcendent dumpling enlightenment, this is probably more of a "good in a pinch" situation than a destination pilgrimage. But for Berkeley? Near campus? For the broke, busy, brilliant, sleep-deprived, caffeine-haunted scholars of tomorrow? It makes sense. It feeds the machine. It keeps the little academic hamsters running. And the sesame balls deserve a fellowship.

We came in a while ago and there was only one man working and making all the orders. We ordered…read morepork and shrimp siu mai (4 pieces), sesame seaweed salad, and the house special combo which comes with 6 soup dumplings and 1 bbq pork bun. Everything tastes good, but I feel like the portions/sizes were on the smaller side than the dim sum I'm used to getting. Still, I would definitely come back when I get the cravings for quick dim sum again. Also, it was so sweet that the guy working that day, gave us an extra bbq pork bun seeing that my boyfriend and I were going to share the food. He told us he didnt want us fighting over the 1 bun that comes with the house special combo. How cute!

Nice everyday Szechwan food, priced affordably near UC Berkeley campus…read more Will come back ro try more options

I have NEVER written a Yelp review, and it is unfortunate that this experience is what finally made…read moreme take the time to do so. I have also never felt the need to publicly speak on racism in my life, but what happened here was too blatant to ignore. For context, I am a student at University of California, Berkeley and a PM at a Fortune 500 company. I say that only to make clear that I am a professional person who understands how to treat others with respect and how basic customer service should work. I came in for a pickup order and stood there attempting multiple times to get the employee's attention. She ignored me repeatedly, even looking directly in my direction without acknowledging me. Then I heard her say hello, and for a moment assumed she was finally speaking to me. Instead, she intentionally greeted and assisted a couple who had just walked in behind me. After helping them, she again looked my way and continued to avoid acknowledging me. In that moment, the treatment felt deliberate and discriminatory. When she finally addressed me, the interaction remained hostile. She appeared suspicious of whether the pickup order was actually mine, despite me giving the correct name that was already listed on the receipt and not visible to me beforehand. Beyond the service, the food itself was equally disappointing. I ordered the orange chicken, and it was some of the driest, lowest-quality chicken I have had anywhere. I have traveled extensively and eaten food all over the world, and it is rare to experience food this poor combined with service this disrespectful. This was an embarrassing experience for a business located near University of California, Berkeley. There are many better options nearby, and I would strongly recommend spending your money elsewhere. No one should have to deal with treatment like this or pay for a meal like this.

Service was quick and servers was kind. We got the spicy sliced beef and golden sliced beef noodles…read moreand both broths were very rich and good. Noodles cooked well.

The service was great! Came here with my son, and he enjoyed the fish noodle soup! Would come back…read moreto try a spicy dish next time.

This is a small restaurant inside a small Asian mall…read more The service is friendly and efficient. You can order using a pad or they can take your order, whichever you prefer. Their menu has a large variety of dumplings and noodles. To me this is Northern Style food. That said I enjoyed everything we had. They serve some dumplings in wee tin holders. At first I was taken aback, then I realized if can help you save all the juicy goodness should your dumpling break open accidentally. The flavors were good and there was plenty of soup in their dumplings. You can see they hand make all their dumplings and baos fresh right in front of you. They also offer dumplings to go and make at home. All in all I enjoyed myself and will be back.

This storefront has had a lot of turnover over the years. I think it might have been a phone store…read moreat one point? The inside is pretty small, there is also seating outside the store but still inside the mall. Ordering was pretty simple, QR code. They also have kiosks for you to order to go. The parking situation for the mall really depends on time of day. There are a lot of spots, but most of them may be taken if you go during a popular meal period. They also offer frozen dumplings, but we didn't get any. I ordered the juicy pan fried pork dumplings and the shredded potatoes with chopped chilis. We also ordered dumplings, I don't recall which as I didn't do the ordering. The dumplings were good, your average dumplings. The potatoes were warmer than I was expecting but not bad. Overall, food was good, didn't stand out but no complaints. Service was good too. I would come back in the future.

So good! Got the mixed bowl to-go, steamed chicken was very tender. The fried chicken was just a…read moretiny bit dry but I didn't mind because the sauce was great. I would come again the next time I'm in the area.

$17 mixed chicken and rice was: really good! The boiled chicken was dry but worked really well with…read morethe sauce. Rice had a lovely lime seasoning and I couldn't not eat it. The fried chicken was flavored well and juicy. Definitely can eat again.

Had a concert in Brekley at the Greek theater ALABAMA SHAKES 05/29/26 as a 40th bdy present …read more So much smoke in the air caused late nt munchies, so after concert was over I headed to this place for a snack before heading back home. This place is open late. The menu is simple and the service is great. Very cute, clean establishment and I think they also offer overnight stays upstairs. I ordered some dumplings and some pot stickers, both flavor in pot stickers. I wish the dumplings had been bigger but they were packed with so much flavor. The pot stickers were actually a hefty portion and they did not disappoint . The chili oil was perfect amount of heat and the side sauce complimented the snack perfectly . The portion was so good I brought what was left to work for my lunch. This establishment is a solid 10/10 and 3 doors down you find a McDonald's if you are a couple having a date nt kkds can gave a happy meal lol. P.S. the packing is super cool!!! Insulated bag with their logo!!! Idk I think that is so dope!

Nash Cafe is homey, authentic, and warm - something that Berkeley has been losing over the last few…read moreyears. With the rise of modern restaurants and designs in the area, Nash Cafe remains that lovely, petite restaurant with very sweet elderly staff. As much as I adore their interior and atmosphere, their food did not hit the way I wished it did. Their potstickers tasted like those frozen grocery potstickers that you microwave. Their zhajiang noodles lacked taste and their table-side chili garlic oil condiment was very bland. There's pork belly skewers were tasty and crispy, but the price did not match the serving size. I did enjoy the Wuhan Dry Sesame Noodles, which was surprisingly their cheapest dish we ordered. Maybe I'm just unlucky and the dishes I ordered weren't their best?

Perfection in all things Ramen is the theme and what I experience every visit…read more What's exciting and new is the Bar is now open. Run don't walk to Sobo Ramen and tell owner Stella I sent you. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy and Ramen On. Tip: don't forget to try out the Cotten Candy machine.

Sobo Ramen in Berkeley was such a pleasant surprise and is easily one of my favorite ramen spots…read moreI've tried. The restaurant has a beautiful, modern interior with plenty of space, making it a great spot for date nights or dining with a larger group. Service was also amazing! We started with the potstickers, chicken karaage, and takoyaki, which were all delicious and the perfect way to kick off the meal. The cocktails were also a highlight--creative, refreshing, and beautifully presented, making them a great pairing with the food. The A5 Wagyu & Marrow Supreme Ramen completely stole the show. The broth was rich and flavorful, while the wagyu and bone marrow took the bowl to another level. From the gorgeous atmosphere to the amazing food and cocktails, Sobo Ramen delivers a unique dining experience that stands out from your typical ramen spot. I'll definitely be back to work my way through the rest of the menu.

I love their hokkein noodles! I've been here twice this month, and I'd probably go more often if I…read morelived closer. I love the build your own bowl- and the serving is big enough for me to have a box of leftovers. The first time I got a mix of the Thai and Malay sauces with chicken- and that was great. The second time I got just the Malay sauce. I think next time I'd mix it with the Thai again for the extra layer of spice on top of peanut. For balance.

First time trying this place. I love eating noodles so it's amazing to see so many different…read moreselection of noodles and sauces on the menu. My family ordered garlic noodles, laksa soup rice noodles, pad see ew, and a recommendation with noodles and Thai plus Malay sauces. The portions were plenty and 5 of us got plenty full and still had some leftovers. The place was clean and had counter service. Food came to our table very quickly as it wasn't crowded at the time. We enjoyed it very much!