$12 for 1 dozen XLB + 2 buns was quite a steal (at least for being as close to campus as it is). The order is usually 6 per order w/ a free bun of your choice so you can't really beat $1/dumpling. We ended up getting the pork/mushroom buns. I thought the dumplings were pretty decent for their price. The meat inside was seasoned well and it was not overly soupy. However I thought the skin was doughy/thick and could be thinner. The pork bun was fluffy and tasty but could use more filling. As for the mushroom one, I wasn't a fan. It just had a weird aftertaste so I probs won't get it again. I haven't really ventured the menu here but heard that the fried rice here is great because for $6 they fill the entire to go container. read more

This place is legit. Great price. Hot quality food. Good location. Only downside is the very limited space and seating. My go to dish here is the shrimp and pork won ton noodle soup. Best $8 ever spent on a cold sick day!! Full of flavor and a super generous portion!! read more

Satisfactory dumplings, with mostly the right flavor, but they can be better. "Steamed" dumpling skins have a bit too much oil. Quantity of pork-lettuce stuffing just passes the threshold between wonton and dumpling. Vinegar was not available, regretfully. Satisfactory service, with one very busy staff working both the kitchen and reception. read more

Delicious! It is in your best interest to pay in cash because the prices vary depending if you are paying cash or card. It is a busy location which is not surprising since it is in Berkeley a college town! It can get really busy but the wait time usually does not go over 10 mins. The employees are nice but when it is busy you should make sure that you know your order since they are trying to get through rush hour as quickly as possible. Many options to choose from! They also have a vegetarian menu which is excellent! It is affordable and yummy! read more

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This is my go-to spot whenever I am craving a hot serving of jook (rice porridge) or some beef chow fun. I live extremely close by, so it's super convenient for me to walk a bit down the street and grab some comforting chinese food for a night in. The inside has very limited seating, so I don't recommend eating in house if you can help it. It's a very hole-in-the-wall type of spot, which just gives the place a more authentic feel. Pro Tip: BRING CASH. Avoid those CC fees, and each item is cheaper if you pay in cash! My boyfriend and I have a few of their menu items on rotation, which include: Chicken Porridge / Pork & Preserved Egg Porridge 5/5 This is literally my go-to and is like eating a warm hug. My boyfriend and I usually get two, but the serving size is large enough that sometimes we can get by sharing one. It's a lighter overall flavor, but the meat is flavorful. Literally the most perfect thing to get on a cold day, or when you're feeling under the weather (or honestly just whenever). I would say the pork and preserved egg jook is a bit more flavorful, but I'm not a fan of the preserved egg (I pick it out to add to my boyfriend's portion) so go for the chicken one if you too do not like preserved egg. Beef Chow Fun 4/5 This is a HUGE serving, so it's great if you are splitting your meals in two to save money! I love eating this with the jook, since it makes the overall flavor less oily, while adding flavor to the jook. It's a very happy marriage, and I totally suggest giving it a try! Otherwise, the chow fun alone is also tasty, and the beef is juicy and tender. Might get a lil oily though if you're aiming to eat it all in one go! Soup Dumpling with Pork (aka XLB aka Xiao Long Bao) 3/5 Surprisingly, their dumplings are what impress me the least. I'm quite spoiled growing up with homemade dumplings from my grandma (these will always be #1 to me) but I think their dumplings are decent. They satisfy the cravings, but aren't the best I've ever had. All in all, if you're in the area looking for a nice comforting meal, this is totally the spot! read more

I love this place for the quantity of rice they provide. I suggest coming here with a friend and then getting dumplings and fried rice. Should be around $7.50 for each person. This place has improved their selection of snacks and appetizers. You can mix and match as few small friend items if you're just looking for a quick savory snack. Quickly has a lot to learn. read more

Haven't been here in a minute! Still just as good & at a bargain price. Selfishly, It's kinda sweet not having to wait in a line full of college students for dumplings, although I do hope they're still receiving business. Our dumplings took about 15 mins and were really fresh & delicious. Dumplings & rolls were enough for 2 people. Will definitely be back sooner than later. read more

It's been awhile since I came for the dumplings, but i know I enjoyed them when I had them more than a year ago! And it's nice to know they're hand made at the store since you get to watch them make it Recently, I went for their buns and I was a bit disappointed. Their buns tasted a bit like the frozen buns you would get at 99 Ranch, such as parts of the buns being dried out. For the custard bun, the custard was quite dried out and lumped into one ball. The mushroom chives bun was a bit oily but it tasted good. Part of the bottom of the bun was also a bit soggy. On a positive note, the buns are already made and warm when you get there, so it's great for a quick meal! So I probably wouldn't come back for the buns, but the dumplings are definitely a go! read more

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A nice little hole-in-the-wall dumpling place near the Berkeley campus. I enjoyed my food, but I probably won't be coming back. $6 is just too much for 5 dumplings and a small pork bun. I ordered the Special. And while I enjoy a good dumpling, these just didn't taste like they were freshly made. The juice inside should be burning hot, but it was actually cool. There are much better dumpling/dim sum places all over The Bay, for much more reasonable prices. read more

Dumpling Express - My "just ok" meal - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food is good but the wait is beyond terrible.. I've ordered here many times in the past year and a half and every single time they make the food so slow. I always order the xlb and the egg custard buns (one order of each) and it takes them around 30 mins to prepare. The food is already cooked ( frozen ) and just reheated on the pan and each order of xlb is 6 small pieces and the buns come with 3 pieces. Every single time I visit it's only one guy working. He doesn't prioritize orders by the order it comes, he starts every single order and neglects the older ones once he gets newer orders. My previous order was through DoorDash and I ordered 40 mins prior to arriving and when I got there I STILL had to wait 20 mins for my order to be ready. 6 pieces of xlb and 3 pieces of custard buns took him an hour to make. Ridiculous. Only one other guy there waiting and he also complained about how long HE has been waiting. I tried to support this business for as long as I could bc honestly the food was good.. but after today when a similar instance has happened (ordered at 12 am and received the food PAST 1 pm) I decided to no longer support this business. The guy who always works there (seemingly the owner/co-owner) didn't even acknowledge the super long wait time, just handed me the food. Many other dumpling places nearby that deserves your visit.. whether you're a local or a visitor, avoid this place unless you look forward to a super long wait time. read more

It's 11:14, says they're open "Maybe we'll open at 12:30" Don't bother unless you want to hang around outside. Super lame read more

Always busy with online orders and usually a wait of about 10 mins but really large portion, a plus for all the students here in Cal! I make a call 10/15 mins before getting there so I skip the waiting line. I always get the Chicken chowfun, ask for less oil if you hate greasy food! Reasonably priced, open kitchen, good portion, what more can you ask for? read more

Dumpling Express - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Looks like that was a amazing flavor in soup dumpling. Carb is my flavor. Will come again shortly. read more

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Yay this place is so good! Got the soup dumplings and they taste just like the ones in Taiwan read more

Dumpling Express - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Inexpensive handmade dim sum, but not the best quality from my experience. We ordered the shrimp and chives (12 pieces for about $8) and the egg custard buns (3 for $3.25). I liked the egg custard bun, it was soft and melted in your mouth. The shrimp and chives weren't made well though, and consisted of mostly chives and one tiny piece of shrimp in each. A few small tables outside and a big counter area inside, but not very much seating if you come on a busy day. The open kitchen concept is really cool, and they have some inexpensive specials. Overall, would probably come back in a pinch, but wouldn't highly recommend it. read more

Dumpling Express - Stuffing the dumplings - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here on its grand opening, and it seems the owners' entire family came to celebrate and give support. Overall, the space is small and humble. It's the type of place my shy Asian dad would be comfortable ordering at. There wasn't much of a line at 6:30, so our handmade chicken and corn dumplings came out within 5 minutes. Looking into my plastic to-go box, I was greeted with an unpleasant sight: our dumplings were lumpy, and the skin drooped unevenly. I was skeptical. But after biting into the dumplings, my initial reluctance turned to warm satisfaction--these babies were seasoned well, tasted fresh, and were satisfying. The dumplings weren't perfect, but they were warm and honest, and made me feel at home. I'd come back to try the xiao long bao and their other dishes! Other stuff: - No seating! But there is a standing counter if you do want to eat in - All orders are made to-go - Cashier spoke decent English as well as Cantonese - Yummy $1 ice cream! Flavors are green tea, mango, vanilla, and pineapple coconuts. Tiny scoops, but good quality--perfect if you're craving for a small bite. Definitely would come back just for the green tea :) read more

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There is really no room to eat in, only a standing bar that can accommodate about 6 people. The dumplings are not the best, but they are very good, cheap, and quick. The kitchen is completely open and you can watch the ladies make the dumplings. The service is efficient and friendly. If you pay with credit card, everything is $0.50 more. $5.50 (cash price) for 12 dollar coin-sized. freshly prepared Shanghai dumplings is a steal. The dumplings are varied, ranging from $5.50-$7.00, with veggie options as well. They also have some rice and noodle dishes. Pick up your food and grab some condiments to go. There is a small condiment bar, with black vinegar, soy sauce, ginger and Siracha. We liked the Shanghai and Kimchi dumplings. The fried rice was good, nothing special, but you can't beat the price. I really liked the pork and preserved duck egg porridge. The flavors were great! Don't forget the $1 scoop of ice cream. The ice cream is not housemade or organic or whatever... It's probably full of junk, tasting like an ice cream version of Hi-Chew, which is A-OK. read more

Dumpling Express - Experts at work. - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cheap, good, freshly cooked, and friendly service. Huge menu of options including lots of dumplings, rice plates, pho, and bahn mi. Had the soup dumplings, shrimp and chive dumplings, and beef and celery dumplings. They were all good and tasted fresh, though the shrimp ones did taste a little undercooked by a min (the wrapper still tasted a bit doughy). All in all, would go back again for more dumplings! read more

Everything here is so fresh! They make everything out in front if you - made to order. First impressions: nice "to-go" setting with a standing bar and disposable utensils available on the side. Adorable grannies hand making dumplings (nostalgia just kicked in) behind the counter. Ordered: Half/ half shrimp dumpling and shanghai xiaolongbao (I had to ask for that portion size). I got it to-go, but even 10 min later they were DELICIOUS and tender. I was surprised at how fresh and juicy the shrimp and chives tasted, and the xiaolongbao SQUIRTED soup (the holy grail indicator of good xlb). Thats how you know it's quality stuff. I gobbled it up like the hungry Chinese girl I am. Possible Improvements: -12 dumplings per order means I can realistically only try 1 dish. Wish I could mix and match more easily without being "that annoying customer" -Also I feel the to-go set up doesn't really match with the "freshly made" agenda since it still takes ~10 min to make. QUICK but not as quick as grabbing a slice of pizza. -Will dumplings sell when you can get a bag at 99 Ranch for so cheeeeep? We shall see. Happy Munching! read more

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-- 3.5 STARS -- (4 MINUS .5 for order mix up) The moment you walk into Dumpling Express, you're meet with a HUGE whiff of freshly cooked dumplings and sweet & sour sauce. The interior is painted in welcoming Cal colors and a gorgeous painting lines the wall on the right. Straight ahead is the menu, which offers a variety of choices from dumplings (obviously) to chow mein, chow fun, rice congee (YES) & various rice plates. The prices are very adorable (12 dumplings for $5-7 and rice plates ranging from $5-6). I feel like there could be a bit of a bottleneck by having the menus so close to the door though. Regardless, the owner at the cashier was incredibly nice and accommodating. The front of the kitchen is completely open with some glass above a granite counter, so you can actually watch all the cooks hurriedly at work. After ordering the Pork Preserved Egg Porridge & Shanghai Soup Dumpling with Pork (which came out to $12 after tax), we're told that the order will take 10 minutes. It's inferred that each dish and dumpling is made fresh on the spot- amazing! The only downside was how steamy the place got while we were waiting.. To the left of the counter lies a huge assortment of plastic silverware, chopsticks, and napkins. This is definitely a take-out or munch-and-go kind of place, NOT somewhere you'd go for a sit-down meal. The dumplings arrived streaming in a plastic and starchy container. My only lament is their lack of bags! When we finally got home, however, they mixed up our orders! Instead of a porridge, I got a rice plate. The soup dumplings were pretty good- they came in tin foil wrappers to help hold the soup. The size themselves were a little smaller than usual, but the soup was delicious! The shrimp dumplings had a very thick wrapper. They also came mixed with a few too many chives, but that's a personal preference. Overall, everything was quite good and affordable! My only qualm was the order mix up, but given the location and price, I'm willing to give them another try tonight! read more

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Not bad! Almost like an authentic asian hole in the wall, but a little bit bigger and nicer, with a single bar table and stools all around. Limited space, so I opted to eat in the car which worked for me First thing to know is: cash is might here. Pay with cash for a discounted price,about 50cents. Much more extensive menu than I expected. From soup to regular dumplings, fried rice, steamed buns, banh mis, etc. Just ordered soup dumplings, which came with my choice of a steamed bun. The pork bun was mediocre. The bun outside was a nice fluffy texture, but the bun overall was small and there was VERY VERY minimal pork filling inside. Now the soup dumplings, pretty good. The skin wasn't too hard, and not too thick. Decent amount of soup and filling, and they were tasty...stronger flavor than other places, not sure if it was the pork or garlic flavor, but it was good. 6 pieces for $6 is pricey in my perspective, but for that quick fix without having to go to SF or the Ark in Alameda, I can deal. I'll be back! read more

We had pork soup dumpling, pork bun and kimchi spicy dumpling. All were tasty and flavorful! The pork in the pork bun was too sweet, in my opinion. The kimchi spicy dumpling was enjoyed-it has a nice heat to it. Will be returning! read more

Love it! Came here my first time on a busy Saturday night around dinner time and there seemed to be a nice crowd in here! Ordered the Shanghai pork dumplings (my personal favorite), the fried chicken dumplings, and the ha gow! We didn't wait long for our food at all. We even got a free pork bun with our order of the Shanghai pork dumplings (D1)! Can't say no to free stuff! Prices are decent as well! It's cheaper if you pay with cash so don't forget to put some in your wallet when you check this place out! read more

Tiny dumpling and noodle take out place located right near UC Berkeley campus. Popular with locals and students. 12 dumplings for 7 dollars and 1 dollar pork buns. The price and quality can't be beat. Food made to order... Huge portions for the noodle dishes. Some outdoor seating and a couple of seats indoors....don't expect fancy read more

Dumpling Express - Dumplings made to order - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

I so hoped that Dumpling Express was an answer to the campus' lack of authentic dim sum. My hopes were mistaken. Pros: Really nice people. Really nice. I wish them the best. Cons: You have to order 12 pieces of the same dumpling. Perhaps offer combo plates? It takes a longtime for the lovely ladies and gents to prepare and cook to order your food. (They are not little old ladies, as stated by an immature Yelp twit.) You have to stand and eat your order there. No seats. Like many Asian food stands. Or... By the time you take you food back to campus ( for me three blocks), your order continues to steam in the carry out container into a ball of mush. Ate a few and I threw the rest of my Shrimp dumplings away. Worst of all, the kitchen is completely open, not just for viewing, flying critters land on your food as it's prepared. Happens in Hong Kong or Chinatown, but you don't see it! I'm back to King Dong... Or even worst, the Asian Ghetto. Even worst-er yet, PF Changs! read more

The lady and I were once again back up in Berkeley. My favorite place, it's like a trap hobos paradise. Seriously tho, between the weird homeless hippie kids who listen to trap music and the students I always feel like I'm in a different nation. Anyway I remembered waking past this spot and decided to give it a shot, I usually crave bahn mi so any new place is a must. This is what they offer: Traditional bahn mi 5 Vietnamese turkey 5 Vietnamese beef 6 Add .50 for card Tofu for vegetarian Beef pho bo Chicken pho ga Pork pho thit I was pleasantly surprised, for the price and location the taste was pretty good. Recommend paying in cash, unless you want to pay the .50 fee read more

THIS PLACE IS GOOD! Dumpling Expressed opened for 3 days and my boyfriend has already gone 4 times. Sort of sad they opened in the beginning of summer where most of the students are gone, but this place is delicious. It is a bit stuffy and hot inside, but there are no tables to sit at, only a bar to stand at. They are famous for their dumplings, and for 12 dumplings (xiao long bao) at $5.50. That's pretty cheap! you can even see them hand making the dumplings. They have an assortment of different kinds, from chicken and corn dumplings to crab dumplings. Not only do they have dumplings, they have porridge, noodles, jia jang mian, rice plates, etc. I ate their ja jiang mian, it was very large portions and pretty spicy in my opinion. Now, it's not the korean kind that is black ish in color. It did take a while for the dumplings to be done because they make it on the spot and do have to steam it, but it's well worth the wait! The juice inside the dumpling, and the freshly grated ginger and vinegar sauce makes it perfect for a snack to share or a meal! I wish I didn't graduate, so I could come back here all the time! read more

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This is one of my favorite finds ever. Don't judge the book by its cover, it's one of the best dumpling places I've ever been. The owner is incredibly nice!!!! read more

Just opened today at noon! Fresh made XLBs. Fresh made noodles. Oh snap. This is gonna be an XLB-cellent summer. Haven't gotten my first order of XLBs yet, so I will update as soon as I finish stuffing my face. ---- walking update ---- Face. Stuffed. Conclusion: nom x 3 on a 3-nom scale. XLB: steaming, hot, juicy, thin enough skin to require above average chopstick skills. Haven't tried anything else yet, but I most certainly will be back for more. I just hope the summer exodus of Cal students won't adversely effect the long term success of this oh so fresh joint. At least that will mean shorter lines for the next couple months. read more

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Ordered soup dumplings, bbq pork buns and Mongolian Beef. The dumplings and buns are EXACTLY the same as what I used to see at the Lee's Deli near where I work in San Francisco (although they've gotten rid of the soup dumplings and changed their buns). This tells me that these are just purchased frozen from some distributor. It's not that they are terrible, it's just that they are...well, frozen dumplings and buns. The Mongolian beef was OK, although it lacked a certain depth of flavor I've experienced at other places. So, in all, it's just an OK place to get cheap food that tastes good (e.g. salty, fatty). I guess that's all it's really trying to be, considering that it's located up on campus. read more

Wow! I totally loved their soup dumplings. Most soup dumplings I've had at dim sum restaurants are usually dry and with little to no flavor or soup, but this place had both! Bold flavors and lots of soup. The only thing is they are a little pricey, but overall GREAT! Would definitely come back for the soup dumplings. read more

Not the best quality of dumplings. The skin of the dumplings were too thick for me, and it was a bit salty. However, it's still A-OK. read more

Dumpling Express - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I was hoping for the experience to be better. $12 (cash) for Shanghai Pork dumplings and shrimp & onion dumplings. Shanghai pork- they were smaller than expected. Also. There was juice inside the dumpling. I didn't like it. The meat and dumpling were both tasty. I would order these eventually. Shrimp and Onion- so oniony. There was something crunchy inside too. There wasn't much shrimp and the flavor was blah. The noodle was too dense and thick. I'll go back someday to try other options. read more

Dumpling Express - $6ish shrimp & onion-skin was too dense and thick, filling was blah. - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love the house special- soup dumplings + choice of small bun. I personally like the mushroom bun read more

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This review is for their Xiao Long Baos only. Price break down (from the top of my memory): $5.05 if you pay in cash. $5.50-60 if you pay with card. This does not include tax which is about another ~$.50. What you get: 6 XLB with one bun (your choice of BBQ pork, mushroom & scallion, or some kind of custard). Overall, it tastes pretty good. It's far superior than a lot of places I've tried in the Bay Area. It's not the best but I would come back just to indulge. The skin is thin, there was a good amount of soup, but there was something slightly off about the flavor. Still good and would definitely recommend. Presentation was poor. I get that it's a fast food restaurant but I was given a regular styrofoam plate and had the XLB placed around my pork bun. It was weird...HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO INSTAGRAM THIS? That's right, I can't. Service was fast (Sunday). Establishment was overall clean. Seating is roughly made for 15-20 people. read more

Dumpling Express - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great place for a quick bite. Relative to its location, it's one of the better spots to pick up soup dumplings (XLB). The pork filling I tried was good however the wrapper skin was kind of on the thick and chewy side. My personal preference is the thin and somewhat firm. Enough that it stays together when you pick it up with your chopsticks and when you take a bite the skin just breaks to let the hot soup burn your mouth. This one requires a bit more bite to break that skin. I'd come back if other options were closed or unavailable. Wouldn't go out of the way though. read more

Do not go there! They are cheaters! The dumplings I got were frozen dumplings! You can buy it from supermarket and way cheaper! It's cheating, not hand-made at all! And the soup-dumplings were sour which means it's rotten! They changed a new one for us but I doubt their integrity right now! Not a good human being behavior! Cheaters! read more

We were in the area and my girlfriend was craving dumplings and we came across this place on yelp. Its a small little shop off of Durant so parking can be troublesome but don't let that stop you from visiting. It is a great place to stop by for a quick meal or order out. They accept orders over the phone and are very punctual. When we first walked in, we received a warm welcome from the employees. They welcomed us to take a look at their menu, which can be difficult to read due to the number of items they have and price changes they have made. Every item has two prices: a cash option (which is lower) and a credit card price (which is higher). Self explanatory. Once we were ready to order, the cashier was very friendly. Working with nice people really puts you in a good mood before eating a good mood. After placing our order, it was delivered to us within 5 minutes. The dumplings were good. They had a good amount of soup in them. It made me want more! As for the chicken curry bowl i was surprised because it weighed a lot when i picked it up and brought it back to the table. Turns out they just filled the bottom of the plate with a thick layer of rice. I ended up throwing much of the rice away when after we finished the actual chicken. Overall, we enjoyed our experience here and will be coming back the next time we have a craving for dumplings. read more

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Decent sized portions that will somewhat satisfy your Chinese food cravings. The dumplings are pretty good. Personally, I don't like how thick and doughy their dumpling skins are, but the overall flavors of the dumplings and the price of the food compared to other Berkeley restaurants keep me coming back. The beef with bokchoy over rice isn't bad either! read more

Dumpling Express - Pork dumplings with Napa cabbage & beef with bokchoy over rice! - Shanghainese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super good lots of students around (order ahead of time if possible.) Pork and shrimp Siu Mai: 9/10 super good I just felt like it was missing something flavor wise. BBQ pork buns: 7/10 something was a little off the dough part was super good but the pork... Fried pork and chicken dumplings: 10/10 ask for extra sauce. Shanghai pork soup dumplings: 10/10 super good nice flavor and nice amount of soup. Chicken wings: 10/10 salt and pepper style has jalapeños and a nice spicy kick. Shrimp Har Gaw: 10/10 nice mild flavor and great texture. Veggie spring roll: 10/10 ask for pot sticker sauce nice and flakey wrap. Sesame balls: 10/10 read more