So I like the crab and pork Xiao long bao here, it's not bad, the skin doesn't break when you pick them up, and they are decently full of soup. That's about it. I've tried their fried rice, beef noodle soup, and pepper and beef noodle soup and none of them have any FLAVOR. Don't get anything else here besides overpriced soup dumplings in the event you are craving them. Everything else is completely lacking in flavor and would only appeal to old people who can't taste anything. read more

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I've been wanting to try Dumpling District for a while. Their $15 combo is intriguing even if their drinks selections are questionable (la croix? brisk iced tea?). I was all for ordering it, when I discovered they have Chinese breakfast foods (!!!) so I ordered the sticky rice ball (with pork floss), beef pancake "roll", which didn't come rolled at all :/ and tri color dumplings with more pancakes. Service was surprisingly friendly and helpful, but the food came out slow for a food court. There was plenty of seating, and they offer plates and extra utensils for sharing (huge bonus). Verdict was that the pork floss breakfast roll was excellent--would be back for more! The pancakes were premade (aka frozen) and the beef roll was not bad. The dumplings were tasty, but were the best? No. Still good value for a $15 food court meal. read more

Dumpling District - Rainbow Soup Dumpling [6] 六彩小籠包 Scallion Pancake 葱油餅 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I was craving soup since it was cold out, and decided to finally try Dumpling District. Though it's tucked away in the bottom of a mall amongst a ton of other food places, I highly recommend you seek this spot out. I ordered the pork chop noodle soup. The pork was amazing and crispy, and the noodles were chewy and so good. I really enjoyed the broth as well. The only thing to note was the pork was hard to eat (a nice sized portion but you kind of had to use your hands) and I gave up on eating the bok choy for the same reason. I didn't want to use my hands eating soupy bok choy in public. If they cut it up that would be awesome! I'll definitely return. read more

Dumpling District - Pork Chop Noodle Soup 豬排湯麵 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The scallion pancakes are incredibly oily. While tasty, our fingers were drenched in grease. This was a negative. Additionally, I liked my main of vegetable dumplings and it was tasty, though not overtly flavorful. My husband also enjoyed his fried rice with chicken. The portion size was generous though perhaps it should be at $18. As a note, the vegetarian selection is poor here and options are limited. read more

I was exploring the Ballston Quarter while I was visiting the area and came by their food hall. It is located all the way in the basement around other restaurants. I did not know what to eat so I went around several times. I saw their ad for rainbow dumplings and knew I had to try them. They had a lunch special available which comes with rainbow dumplings, scallion pancakes, and a soda. That was a good deal I didn't have scallion pancakes in a long time so I had to try it. It was delicious. The soup dumplings came out warm and ready to go. I loved all of the different flavors. They had chicken, pork, spicy pork and several others. You can't go wrong with any of them. This is a cool place to enjoy some dim sum and dumplings. read more

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Great food! We were in the mood for soup dumplings and this spot did not disappoint. We ordered the soup dumpling combo with scallion pancakes and a drink. It's conveniently located in Ballston quarters food court. Parking is in the garage within the building with very affordable rates. read more

Dumpling District - Rainbow Soup Dumpling 6 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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We loved this place! Lots of great dumpling options- we tried the chicken soup dumplings and the rainbow soup dumplings- which is one of each flavor- and we loved them all! Lots of flavor. We also tried the pork Bao and the crab now both of which were very tasty. Service was fast too read more

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Great dumpling spot! Love the rainbow soup dumpling option so you can try all the flavors. The dumplings were excellent, fresh and hot and flavorful to the max. Just the right balance of dough, filing, and delicious broth. They're also located in the Ballston Quarter food court so you can also grab boba, dessert, or maybe a second entree from somewhere if you wanted! read more

Dumpling District - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is a true not-to-be-missed neighborhood gem! Can't believe I have this in my backyard. Lucky me! I got the rainbow soup dumplings (6 to an order) and was completely satisfied. Although I loved 5 out of six, here is my order of preference: 1. Black Truffle Pork (the smell alone made my mouth water) 2. Chicken 3. Crab meat & pork 4. Pork 5. Spicy pork (not spicy, thank god, but a little oily (die to the chili oil?)) 6. Shrimp and zucchini (didn't care for this one; flavor over powering). Loved the sparkling water selection. A sign specifically says there is nothing else in the bag so you need to grab your utensils of choice and napkins. Wish the soup spoons weren't plastic, but it is what it is. Will definitely return! read more

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Waited close to 30 mins for my one order of pork soup dumplings. It wasn't busy and I saw several employees in the kitchen, so not sure what the hold up was. Cashier did apologize for the long wait. Once I finally bit into one, I realized there was no soup in any of them. They were pretty much dried out somehow. Sad :( read more

Dumpling District - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My friends and I got dinner at Ballston Quarter and I decided to get some XLBs from Dumpling District, which is a pretty new addition. I've been to the Dumpling District before at Luna Hall so I know the soup dumplings will have decent flavor to them. BLACK TRUFFLE (PORK) SOUP DUMPLINGS (6) - 14.95 I got these to see if the black truffle flavor makes a big difference. For an additional $2, I didn't think it was. Personally, I prefer a regular pork XLB but the black truffle pork XLB was pretty good too. The dumplings were a good size, but a lot of them lacked soup. The skin was a bit thick and the dumplings tasted previously frozen and not fresh. Still, the flavor was pretty food but it's expensive to be paying $15 for only six bites. If I was really craving XLBs, I would consider going to Dumpling District but I will try to hold in my cravings probably, lol. read more

Dumpling District - Black Truffle Soup Dumplings 6 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Convenient kiosks to order and pay; well packaged; the wait wasn't too long; nice "dine in area (in the foot court). Haven't tried their namesake dumplings yet but I can comment on other dishes -- Beef noodle soup (tasty, if simple: just beef and veggie in soup) Cucumber salad, delicious Seaweed salad, excellent (if a bit sour) read more

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A friend and I stopped into dumpling district in the Ballston quarter market for a bite to eat. We got the soup dumplings( chicken, pork, and pork and truffle), the pork buns, and the sweet sticky rice roll. Everything was very good and the server was nice. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area. I loved how we could customize which soup dumplings we wanted. read more

Dumpling District - Sweet Sticky Rice( including Crispy Dough) and Pan-fried Pork Bun 6 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

A mixed bite, dumpling disappointment, but a soup redemption. Taking a well-earned break from my usual grind of fixing planes, I ventured out with high hopes and an appetite for discovery. I was eager to be wowed, especially by a spot known for its dumplings. Sadly, the culinary journey didn't quite take off the way I expected. This place is situated in the Ballston Quarter Food court, I got lost trying to find it, so here you go......it's underneath the building!!! My wife and I ordered an assortment of dumplings, including the vibrant rainbow dumplings and the much-anticipated crab dumplings. For our daughter, we chose the seafood noodle soup--a decision that, in hindsight, turned out to be the saving grace of the entire meal. Let's start with the dumplings. While visually appealing, the flavors left much to be desired. There was a disappointing lack of distinction between the varieties--bland, uninspired, and nearly indistinguishable from one another. The only exception was the black truffle soup dumpling, which offered a welcome burst of flavor and stood apart as the sole highlight in an otherwise forgettable lineup. The crab dumplings, in particular, were underwhelming. I had expected the briny sweetness of crab to shine through, but it was muted to the point of invisibility. Frankly, the lack of contrast among the flavors made me contemplate seeking a different dining option altogether. But then, the seafood noodle soup arrived--and the story changed. Served in three distinct components, the dish invited interaction and discovery. The base: tender noodles accompanied by a generous seafood tray. Into this, you pour a separate vessel of clear, aromatic broth--giving it a minute or two to fully awaken the flavors. The result? A richly layered, deeply satisfying bowl of comfort. Scallops, white fish, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy--each element played its part. The textures were thoughtful, the flavors balanced. I managed a few bites before our daughter reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that I was intruding on her meal. Fair enough. It was that good. Service was another highlight. The young man behind the counter was gracious, attentive, and genuinely kind--a quality that earns its own star in my book. The ambiance was refreshingly different: industrial, a touch underground, with an urban energy that stood in stark contrast to the more polished but generic feel of the Waldorf area. It's a space that welcomes families without sacrificing character. In short, the setting and service raised expectations the food didn't quite meet--at least when it came to the dumplings. But the seafood noodle soup? That dish alone is worth a return visit. Final Verdict: Come for the ambiance, stay for the soup--and if you're chasing great dumplings, perhaps look elsewhere... for now. And as always, enjoy your bite......or try someplace else. read more

Dumpling District - her seafood noodle soup - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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We are from Cali so we have high expectations for our dim sum This place was great, the wait was a little long but we came at lunch time so it is what it is. The young guy taking the orders is great at his job, calm and clear. We ate before I took photos but assume it looked awesome. The pan fried dumplings were a little bit too herby for me. And you can tell they don't use msg..... and I love msg but apart from that it's a solid dim sum spot read more

This place was fine but I wasn't wowed. The XLB (soup dumplings) were OK, but could've been more flavorful, and had a slightly sweet taste to them, which I didn't like. Spring rolls were the same as Panda Express. Stir-fry noodles were also OK, but needed more flavor. Menu needs to state what is in each dish. You order by kiosk so you'd have to wait for someone to come out to ask. There are better places for dumplings. read more

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So happy they opened a location in NoVA! These are definitely one of my favorite soup dumplings. They are always flavorful and generous sizing! They also have very fun flavors outside of pork and crab such as chicken, truffle, mala, and shrimp with zucchini. My go-tos are pork, crab, and truffle. The pork wontons in chili oil peanut sauce were good! Very peanut-y for sure. The pan fried baos were not as good as other locations I've had. There wasn't much soup/juice so that was a bit disappointing. Still had good flavor tho! read more

New addition to the food court! Delicious steamed dumplings at a reasonable price. Authentic flavors, good sized dumplings. My friends also had pan fried dumplings and spring rolls which were also delicious. Also lots of other delicious food options in the food court. Close proximity to the metro for easy transportation options! read more

Dumpling District - Pork Shrimp Chive Steam Dumplings 8 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I tried the rainbow dumplings with a kung fu tea (running a promotion where the drink is free) and both were great! I really enjoyed all the dumplings, and, particularly, the mala. I thought they were better and more flavorful than others I've had at Yu Noodles, for example. The passion fruit green tea was also great! read more

Dumpling District - Rainbow Rainbow Soup Dumplings 6 and passion fruit green tea from Kung Fu Tea - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Solid 4/5! SUPER impressed with this place especially since it's in a food court. We ordered 2 orders of the soup dumplings (they didn't have the pork flavor at the time), shumai, pan fried dumplings, pork ribs over rice, wonton soup, hot&sour soup-my FAVORITE, and rice cake noodles. Everything tasted amazing and very worth the price! We had leftovers amongst the 4 of us so that served as an extra treat ;) I appreciated how this place stayed open later than some of the other restaurants inside. Please go and support this business as we would very much appreciate the longevity of this place. read more

Dumpling District is one of the newest spots in the Ballston Quarter Market food hall. I was excited to try a new place, since I find myself in the Ballston area quite often and have started to grow tired of some of the other food options. When I first walked up to order, I noticed the beautiful design below their counter space. There were 2-3 people ahead of me and it took about 10-15 mins to get my food. I got the rainbow soup dumplings which featured one of each flavor of soup dumpling. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! My favorite was the spicy pork! I definitely want to return to try more menu items. read more

Dumpling District - Rainbow Dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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One of my favorite things to discover on my food exploration anywhere are the holes in the wall and hidden gems that are not known to the masses. Within this category exists a specific subcategory which I will call the overachievers. These are places that would totally be acceptable playing it safe with humdrum menu offerings , using average ingredients, or taking shortcuts for faster preparation and turnover. Dumpling District, never to be confused with its inauthentic and blasé unrelated douchey doppelgänger District Dumpling, is an overachiever. Located in the food hall in the basement level of Ballston Quarter, it features the ever ubiquitous offerings of soup dumplings, noodle soups, and a variety of Shanghainese/Taiwanese dim sum. Some unique offerings that dont necessarily need to be there yet are available include fresh soy milk, both salty and sweet options for salty rice rolls (the Taiwanese cousin of onigiri), and stir fried rice cakes. Interestingly enough, the chef hails from Hong Kong, yet the menu is devoid of the classic Hong Kong fare of Cantonese dim sum, egg noodle soup with shrimp wontons and char siu pork, or any combination of roasted duck over rice or noodles. Having had the chance to chat with the chef who also works at the cash register as the food is being prepared to order, I find out that he braises his own meats, and he takes pride in all his dishes. The salty rice roll is rarely done right in the states since the glutinous rice exterior is often undercooked or the filling is insufficient, whereas his version reminds me of the mom/pop storefront across from my grandmother's apartment in Taipei with the right amount of chew and packed with pork floss, pickled mustard, and a crunchy fried dough stick (yiou tiao) For the noodle soups, the chef's favorite is the braised pork rib noodle soup. The ribs are braised bone-in fall off the bone tender in a umami rich soy gravy and packaged separately atop springy thin flour noodles/steamed bok choy which comes with a separate clear consommé broth to complete the trinity. One of the best noodle soups I have had outside of Rockville in the DMV, this noodle soup would be a worthy offering within any respectable Chinatown or Chinese/Taiwanese enclave in North America. I expected far less in this region since nobody seems to care about the level of quality for these dishes other than just the mere existence of an option, so for there to be one located in a random food court that also include quite a few local DC chain restaurants really caught me off guard. The sad part is that more often than not, an overachiever is under appreciated and therefore loses momentum over time, so I hope folks catch on to this new addition, and help it expand into its own brick and mortar or sprout into multiple locations. read more

Yummy soup dumplings. Currently in soft open mode, it has taken awhile to put a restaurant in this spot of Ballston market and I really hope this one sticks because it was delicious. The dumplings stood by themselves but the visible ginger in the dipping sauce was a nice touch. Took a reasonable amount of time to get freshly steamed dumplings. I liked the pork best but found the others delightful and fragrant. This will definitely go into our post hockey rotation! read more

Dumpling District - Rainbow soup dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

service is really awesome. every time I come here the food is great. Server is very responsive and respectful. No issues at all

It's great to have options for soup dumplings. I tried the sampler rainbow, which has one of each flavor. Some are better than others, but all of them had a decent amount of soup still inside, so they definitely hit the spot. Also tried the gyoza-style dumpling appetizer which was ok but pretty standard. I liked the food, but the one downside may be the price. Once the novelty wears off, I don't see many customers willing to pay entree prices on appetizer quantities. Maybe they'll have some luck with their non-dumpling entrees though? read more

Dumpling District - Rainbow Soup Dumplings 6 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

These might be my new favorite dumplings in Arlington!! These are a must try, in Ballston quarter food court. I ordered the chicken soup dumplings, pork pan fried dumplings, pork dumplings in peanut chili oil, stir fry vegetables noodles, and vegetable spring rolls. The dumplings were out of this world, so good that I didn't need any sauce. I picked up my order to go and the service was speedy and my food was still warm by the time I got home. I can't wait to try more food from here! Love this food court, so many good options and super cute! read more

Dumpling District - Chicken Soup Dumplings 6 pan Pan-fried Pork Bun 6 Pork Wontons in Chili Oil Peanut Sauce 8 Stir-Fry Noodles Vegetable Spring Roll (3) - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Very good eatery, although pricey in my opinion! I tried each one of the six kinds of rainbow soup dumplings and they were delicious. Although I personally think that this eatery could be even better if they had more drinks that usually tend to go well with dumplings, such as jasmine tea and green tea for example. They do have soy milk, but I guess they were out when I came. Otherwise, I give this place 5 out of 5 stars, because the dumplings are worth a try and I am sure that I will try some of the other menu items in the future. read more

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The rainbow soup dumplings and and spicy pork soup dumplings were great! There wasn't a lot of soup in the pork ones but the rainbow did. The hot and sour soup and shrimp and wonton soup was average. It only took about 10 minutes for the food to come out which was surprising based on some other reviews. The storefront itself had an easy to navigate kiosk to order and the employees were very kind. read more

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This shop is in the back of the ballston quarter food court. We stopped by here to try their soup dumplings. I had the rainbow soup dumpling sampler. They tasted alright. I think tiger dumplings has much better soup dumplings and it isn't far from here. I had some issues with my dumplings being already torn with the soup leaking out. Definitely was not an ideal experience. The staff also couldn't provide us with a cup of water, but given the amount of shops in the food court, this wasn't a big deal as we just went to a neighboring store. read more

Great soup dumplings if a little expensive. I'm not sure how great the other food is here because I can't get past the dumplings. Mala is my favorite, though I wish they were a little spicier. This has become a go-to spot in Ballston. Service is a little slow, but you don't want this kind of thing to be rushed. read more

It was my second time eating there and I really enjoyed it. The rainbow soup dumplings are really good. I loved the truffle one and the spicy pork one. Green one was okay. read more

Dumpling District - Rainbow Soup Dumplings 6 - Dim Sum Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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4/5 Tucked away in a food court that looks bustling from the outside but actually plays as a lobby for a dead mall. This place has so much potential! The food was great! Ordering was easy via self kiosk. The spicy chili wontons with peanut butter sauce was outstanding. I'd get two orders of those next time. As a group, we ordered so many other sides. My gf loved her hot and sour soup (but she's a bit of an hot and sour soup addict) . Stop by! read more

Dumpling District is located in the Ballston Quarter neighborhood and more specifically, inside the food court of the newly renovated mall. From mouth watering Dim Sum to savory full flavored soup, each meal is wonderfully crafted and prepared with love and care to showcase its exquisite taste of organic ingredients. The service is exceptional introducing a quick in and out method if in person and delivery using a food courier service. The staff is very friendly and professional making sure your needs are met. If you have an allergy or medical food condition then please do not hesitate to share this information with a staff member to see if adjustments can be made. I have been coming by and enjoying the family friendly service and not to mention the tasty food dumpling district prepared. I am eagerly awaiting a release of their logo as a keychain to collect as a souvenir and gift to family and friends. When ready to satisfy your tastebuds, then stop on by to the Dumpling District located inside the Ballston Quarter neighborhood here in Arlington Virginia. My apologies I forgot to mention that if you like dumplings then definitely try their rainbow soup dumplings or you can purchase it as a gift for a family member or friend. Be warned, they are extremely hot when you open to taste. read more

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I tried their vegan crispy soup. Excellent! The veggies were fresh and hot. The crispy noodles are great. Service was good. I'm an old cash guy so change took two people. The ambiance was the Ballston Quarter food court. Ambiance is ambiance. I liked it. Good place for families. My only complaint is that there aren't many vegetarian options. read more

Not that good! Dumplings were so thick in dough it was basically like they were cake battered. Maybe if you're good with it you would like it but I didn't read more

Food was OK but not terribly memorable. The soup dumplings were very good, though. I got the rainbow dumplings so I could try the different flavors. They were hot, fresh, and tasty but the flavor differences were a bit subtle. The other dishes we got were less successful. The scallion pancakes were flaky but greasy and needed more flavor. The chicken baos were pan fried and a little tough. The spring rolls were forgettable. read more

It's quite expensive and the quality is very good. I would like to try other dishes next time.

Dined in and also ordered takeout and the quality of the food has been 5/5 each time. Would recommend the black truffle soup dumplings and the pork wontons w/ chili oil peanut sauce. read more

The pork buns might be one of the best things I've ever eaten. And the soup dumplings were so cute & delicious. 10/10

Dumplings were delicious, the steam from the dumplings did accumulate a little excessively at the bottom but still a great experience