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My family and I came here for my hubby's bday, but left feeling less than satisfied. This location of Dumpling Time is located in the trendy Santana Row - a block away from the Winchester Mystery House. The restaurant is decorated very nice trendy, and upscale, They even have an outdoor area on the side of the main restaurant, as well as a small patio seating area in the street. We were excited to try their unique XLB offerings. They also had a cocktail menu exclusive to the Santana Row location. We ended up ordering the Tom Yum XLB, Pho XLB, Veggie Dumplings, Chili Pork Dumplings, Chicken Gyoza, Beijing Noodles, and Scallion Noodles with chicken. All the food arrived and was visually appealing. The presentation was great, and everything was really beautiful and colorful. Unfortunately the flavors didn't match with how good they looked. Everything was bland. I love the concept of these unique XLB flavors and I think they have something going, but whoever developed these recipes needs to add more seasoning to their food. I think the only thing my family thought was good was the chicken gyoza. I didn't try the desserts, but I overheard some girls in the restroom say that they were disappointed with them, so I'm glad that I didn't order it.
I feel like the food here went downhill. Came on a Sunday afternoon for brunch and everything tasted cold and salty. Nothing was piping hot? It was weird. Taiwanese popcorn chicken was salty and so was the pork and shrimp rice rolls. Shiu mai was okay but bland. Best thing here was the bbq pork fried buns and maybe the pork gyoza. I remember this place tasting better but idk what happened this time around.
Admittedly, I haven't tried any other dumpling focused restaurants prior to this one. I have nothing to compare the food at Dumpling Time with. Was the food good here? Yes. Was it outstanding and memorable? No, not really. Was it authentic? I would guess no , not really . Is it overpriced? Yes, especially for the small portion sizes. We showed up at about 5pm on a Monday night and sat outside. The plates are all on the small side , and the service was very spotty. We ordered about 5 plates and they all came out one by one. That made for an awkward dinner as someone was eating and the rest of the family watched. Our dinner came out to around 100.00 not including tip. I don't think I would come back- there are better options available at Santana Row.
We were really looking forward to having dinner here and were excited to receive our order. Unfortunately, our experience quickly took a turn. We noticed that the water was cloudy, which was already concerning. Then, when we poured the soy sauce into our saucer, a large number of dead bugs came pouring out of the container. We couldn't identify exactly what they were, but they appeared to be small insects. We immediately brought the issue to the manager's attention. Instead of handling the situation professionally, we felt that he became defensive and upset. At that point, we were extremely uncomfortable and decided to get up and leave immediately. We did not feel comfortable eating the food or staying in the restaurant. This was a very disappointing experience, and based on what we experienced, we will not be returning. AWFUL!!
We stopped in and ate here. We had the Pho, chicken fried rice ($20) and some dumplings. The food was delicious, with the chicken fried rice being our favorite, then the dumplings. The Pho was a bit different from a traditional Pho dish, but it was decent. The service was good and the prices Were average. Wifey had a Sapporo Also, which was in a glass and great!
Was craving dim sum and we decided to stop by. The place wasn't super busy and was a really cozy atmosphere in the busy shopping area. We ordered the green beans and the dumpling sampler. The service was pretty quick and we got our food right away. The green beans were my favorite. The dumplings were very soft. It was a bit difficult to taste the difference of each one, but can somewhat assume from the color of the pastry.
Overrated and overpriced. Service was great and staffs were amazing but the food overall was bland and boring. The dumplings were extremely mushy and subpar.
Located in Santana Row, there's plenty of seating inside and outside. I came here around 1:30pm but it wasn't busy at all. If you're looking for casual standard dumplings, this is the place. However, it can be pricey. Menu: - Wagyu XLB: soupy inside, meat was well cooked - Pork Shrimp Siu Mai: soft, flavors are good
We're often quick to leave a negative review when something goes wrong, but we don't always take the time to recognize great service when it truly deserves it. I wanted to give a big thank you to the entire staff, and especially to our waiter, Daniel. We brought our small dog with us, and while many restaurants would have simply said no, Daniel went out of his way to accommodate us by seating us outside. He even brought our dog a bowl of water without us having to ask, and from that moment on, he made us feel genuinely welcome. It may seem like a small gesture, but it's those thoughtful touches that turn a meal into a memorable experience. Great food is important, but exceptional customer service is what keeps people coming back. Daniel's kindness, attention to detail, and willingness to go the extra mile made our visit extra special. Thank you again to Daniel and the entire team for reminding us what true hospitality looks like. We'll definitely be back, and we'll be recommending this place to our family and friends.
We had such a great time - attentive service, nice food, beautiful view and very dog friendly. What else can we ask for? Dumpling Time is so convenient. Park at the basement in Olin garage which gives you first 90 minutes free. Take a short stairs up and there you are in the middle of Santana Row. You'll see Dumpling Times right away :) We were one of their first customers and we had our puppy with us. We first sat facing the courtyard but it was windy and chilly. The staff promptly moved us to an area of no wind and with working overhead space heater for our comfort, while maintaining our view. Our server was very attentive. He kept checking on us to see what we needed. At the beginning, he promptly brought out a nice cup of water for our pup, served our teas and took our orders. Food also came out in reasonable time as well. I love that all the dishes here were of reasonable prices and portions. We ordered 2 dumpling dishes and a wonton soup. Everything was nicely flavored and made of fresh ingredients. My mom and I chomped down on our dishes and finished them all within record time LOL Honestly, I believe Dumpling Time is underrated. You can get very decent dumplings here with nice portions and reasonable prices while enjoying Santana Row.
The servers did not know who ordered what, for three times they had asked us if we ordered something we did not, and on the third time the server even tried to put the dish on our table after us saying multiple times that we did not order it. The food was also just oaky.
I've never been to Dumpling Time but when I noticed that they served jellyfish salad, I was ALL in. Jellyfish salad is amazingly delicious especially at dim sum restaurants or even at weddings, however, the salad here was slightly different. Since we were craving just the jellyfish salad, that was all we ordered. The jellyfish was on the crunchier side and was marinated in what seemed to look like chili oil. It wasn't salty whatsoever and was slightly bland. On its own we rated it a 4/10 but once we dressed it up with extra soy and chili, it became a 7/10 as it tasted much better. Overall, I would not order it again but I am open to trying their other dishes!
Delicious food - it all tasted fresh and well seasoned! The price was pretty fair for the area.
Their dumplings were good quality. Definitely try the assorted dumplings if you can't make up your mind. It was hard to determine the difference between Tom yum and Kim chi flavors though. Kim chi originally tasted like pho. The server did tell us what each flavor was but our palettes couldn't tell the difference at first. Wagyu had a distinct truffle taste. Broccolini was well seasoned with garlic and well cooked. If you order any of their hot teas, make sure to wipe the bottom of the cup. Ours still had residue at the bottom. Opted to use a glass cup instead once the tea cooled down. Shrimp toast was mildly spicy and crispy. Servers checked in with us every now and then. Mildly loud ambiance. You could hear conversations from other tables. read more
I compare this with the likes of Din Tai Fung (Valley Fair) and Dumpling Hours (in Palo Alto). Service was a bit slow. Restaurant is in a good location on Santana Row with parking really close. We used the InKind app for this visit. The pork XLB were standard dumplings with thicker skin, served in those tin foil vessels that cause the dumpling to stick and break open when removing. But the flavor was good, soup could be hotter. The pork potstickers were somewhat unique with the crusted edges. Pretty good. The Har Gow (shrimp dumplings) were fairly standard and similar to other restaurants. Still good. The snap peas were good as well, but would have loved if they were also cooked with garlic, like the green beans. The sesame balls were some of the best I've had. While they took more than 15 min to arrive, they were very good. Could tell they were homemade. read more
Overall the food was okay and nothing special. I really liked the har gow but that was the only thing that I would go back for in the future. I would recommend not getting the wonton soup as it was extremely bland and underwhelming. The service was okay. You could tell they were understaffed and probably weren't expecting the crowd they had today. read more
4 months ago
I think the flavors and food was generally good but I came inside expecting authentic Chinese food and I didn't get that at all. The xlb were good but they didn't taste authentic and the sauce it came with was bright red which threw me off. The Beijing noodles were also kinda off in the flavor, although not a bad flavor. The chicken bao was also a good flavor but not Chinese seasoning tasting. Overall a little confused but satisfied. My friend and I were talking about it and she says she has her own category for restaurants like these and calls it Chinese American food. I think of Panda Express for that category and I feel like it's too different. Anyways, I thought the price was also a bit much for the food that I didn't expect so that's why I gave it three stars. read more
9 months ago
We stopped in after a day out with family. The restaurant wasn't busy so we were sat right away. Our water was nice and helped us by pointing out the popular menu items. He wasn't the most thorough. He took only some of our drink orders and didn't ask anyone else if they wanted something to drink. Not a big deal but a little annoying. Food was brought out quickly. Everything was delicious. No complaints about the food at all. The service was pretty bad. After we finished no one came back to bring us our bill or to ask if we needed boxes. I was so tired of waiting that I just got up and started putting my jacket on. Finally after the waiter said "have a good night" I pointed out I still needed to pay. Luckily for them I am Honest or I could have easily walked out without paying. The good was great but not sure if I'll come back. read more
9 months ago
The worst experience ever. Isn't this a Chinese restaurant?... I asked if the owner changed because it seems odd to have all these new people. Asked to make a porridge for our baby and typically they would have but was told even their fried rice is premade.... Okay...and they do not have a plain white rice!!! WHAT Asked if tofu is available since they have mapo tofu and was told the tofu is also premade... So what do you make and cook? Xiao long bao, buns and dumplings are all frozen and premade.... Why are we even here... I was quite upset for choosing a wrong place for a holiday dinner with a family. The bill ended up $200 and they charged 6% employee surcharge. Ambiance bas became so messy and clutter. The noodles are so salty. Xiaolongbao had a clear broth come out with no pork fat... Do not come here so disappointing read more
I've visited this restaurant twice now, and it's been hit or miss depending on the dish. It's clearly not a traditional Chinese restaurant in terms of flavor, but I give them credit for trying to bridge traditional and modern tastes. Especially catering to the Santana Row demographic. I ordered the same items on both visits (about 6 months apart), the first was dine-in and the most recent was take-out, so my review takes that into account. What I ordered: Char Siu Ribs ($20) - 8/10 Delicious. Classic Char Siu flavor in rib form--clearly designed to appeal to a broader audience. No complaints here, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Maine Lobster Siu Mai ($18) - 6/10 A bit overhyped. The lobster flavor was very subtle, and the truffle oil overpowered it. Using Maine lobster feels wasted here. DT Wings with Spicy Chili Crisp ($16) - 6/10 Fried well, but average overall. Spice was good, but nothing stood out. Chili Pork Dumplings ($13) - 7/10 Decent flavor, but the pork-to-chive ratio was off. Too heavy on the meat. The key is balance. Beijing Noodles ($13) - 8/10 Light and subtle. Don't expect rich, bold flavors or a ton of ground pork, but it works for what it is. Tom Yum XLB ($13) - 6/10 Very bold tom yum flavor--great if you're a fan of it. Personally, I was hoping for a more traditional xiao long bao with hints of tom yum. Just not for me. XLB ($12) - 8/10 Respectable showing. Broth was flavorful, and the wrapping held up well. Not as juicy or balanced as Din Tai Fung, but definitely above average. Har Gow ($11) - 4/10 My least favorite. Likely suffered from being to-go. Skins stuck together and tore easily. Shrimp was basic and under seasoned. Shrimp & Pork Siu Mai ($11, x2) - 8/10 Solid, dependable, and always worth ordering. Hard to mess this one up, and they didn't. Green Beans ($13) - 8/10 Surprisingly good even as takeout. Great flavor and still had a nice bite to them and didn't get soggy. Veggie Spring Rolls ($12) - 6/10 A bit mushy for my taste. Likely overcooked, which took away from the texture. Shrimp Toast ($14) - 8/10 Delicious. This was my first time trying shrimp toast, and it did not disappoint. Crispy, flavorful, and a nice surprise. Fried Rice ($14) - 8/10 Moist and flavorful. Held up well for takeout and didn't feel dry or overly greasy. Solid option if you want something familiar. This place leans more "modern Chinese fusion" than traditional. Would definitely visit again. read more
Been craving dimsum for a while and I've had this place bookmarked for a while. Walked in at 6 pm on a Friday evening and the restaurant was empty except for people dining on their outdoor patio. The space is pretty big and can accommodate multiple parties including big ones. The service was impeccable (probably because it wasn't busy) but every single person that stopped by checked in on us even if they weren't our server. Food: 4/5 The menu is pretty straightforward nothing too crazy it's a single page for the food items and the other side is a drinks menu. We ordered 5 plates of food that came out to around $110. The XLB is nothing too crazy, the skin is pretty thick and they look/taste like the ones you get at TJs so I don't think it's worth the $ for it. Overall the food is pretty decent but it's probably something I'd come back to if Din Tai Fung wasn't busy read more
The interior is decorated very uniquely and nicely. I was pleasantly surprised to see a Chinese restaurant on Santana Row, and the vibes seemed casual enough to go with friends. I also liked how it is affordable for the street it was on and not overly fancy. We were seated on the Patio area and it was nicely heated. I wish the menu had more options. As the restaurant seems pretty new, maybe this will change after time. The soup dumplings and Xiao Mai were not bad but nothing to write home about. The soup dumplings come in little tins which is new to me. I enjoyed the taste of the woodear and cucumber salad. read more
Good to have this option when you're craving dumplings in Santana Row. I've been to its chain in Thrive City. This is a more upscale vibe with a large bar area and outdoor seating options. We came for lunch on a Sunday and used reservations through Yelp to secure a spot but there were many tables available inside. Service was slow on this day but the grub was good. We enjoyed the green beans and the crispy chicken wings along with other main stream dim sum fare. Found the cucumbers cool and refreshing. If you like spicy and mouth numbing flavor, try the mapo tofu dish! read more
1 year ago
This place is busy! It's right in the middle of Santana Row area so it's always flourishing with people and doggos. The outside sort of patio area is very pleasant and nicely breezy with minimal sun because of the smart and comfortable set up. The food is always good. A bit over priced for the value and this definitely consider fusion food for the masses but still tasty. I tend to suggest this place to visiting friends if it's mainly for the location and the brunch-y outdoor atmosphere. Oh and the foods are all shareable. read more
I've been to the other two dumpling times and thought it was great, but never heard great things about this location. I thought service was a bit slow as it took a while to get our order, serve our food, and get water. Tom Yum XLB (4/5): Not as much tom yum flavor, but definitely a unique try. Cracking Rock Shrimp (5/5): This was on their seasonal menu and I really enjoyed it. The shrimp was very tender and poppy. The flavor was very explosive too. Wagyu Dumpling (4/5): it was good, but considering the price; it's not worth Shrimp toast (5/5): A classic String beans (4/5): Small portions but was good Overall the food was not bad at all. Although the service could be questionable read more
10 months ago
Staff was nice. Decent decor. Restaurant wasn't busy. Overall food was at room temperature and lack of flavor. Very disappointing. XLB has very little soup in it and not much flavoring. They didn't serve the traditional ginger with vinegar with it. Spicy won tons had no flavoring and not spicy. Shrimp toast was ok (literally taste like Chinese doughnut top with a shrimp). Har Gow was ehh. I rather go to a traditional Chinese restaurant for dumplings and dim sum for less of the costs and better quality food. read more
1 year ago
Ordered the xlb combo and the mango pudding. Service is fast and friendly. Nice place with lively Ambience read more
The ambiance is nice, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Unfortunately, the service was just okay -- we waited quite a while before anyone brought us water. Crispy Rice Stick - 4/5 Really unique presentation. It's hard to say if it's delicious or not -- it's more of a snack than a dish. The texture reminded me of puffed rice, topped with a light sauce. Lamb Dumpling - 5/5 These were excellent! The lamb filling was tender and flavorful, and the wrapper had just the right thickness. Definitely the highlight of the meal. 10-Piece XLB Combo - 3/5 They looked beautiful -- five different flavors, two of each. Sadly, the server didn't explain which color matched which flavor, so it was a guessing game. Each dumpling had broth inside, but overall they were a bit too greasy for my taste. Chocolate XLB - 3/5 Tried sweet XLB for the first time. Not really my thing -- the melted chocolate filling was just okay, nothing special. read more
24 days ago
My friends and I came here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. It was sunny out so we opted to sit outside (with heaters). It wasn't too busy, so we were seated promptly upon arrival. Food: We ordered a variety of different food to share. I really enjoyed the fried tofu and the green beans the best. The vegetable dumplings were okay. My friends enjoyed the shrimp toast the most. I tried a drink with durian that I thought was pretty good. I am one of the small percentage of people who like the fruit, so take with that what you will. Service: Service was friendly and prompt. Our server checked in on us every so often. The food items like many dumpling or dim sum places came out as they were ready. TL;DR - Decent selection for dumplings with good service read more
3 months ago
8 months ago
2/5 stars. Not worth the price tag. I came in with high expectations after visiting the SF location, but the food here was bland and uninspiring. The dumplings were especially disappointing compared to what I've had before. Between the lack of flavor and the service needing work, it felt like a waste of money. I'd recommend skipping this location read more
The food was great! We were walking around Santana row and wanted a snack so we stopped by DumplingTime and ordered the BBQ pork buns and it left us satisfied for the whole night! The buns weren't too sweet and were super fluffy and flavorful! The service was great, they sat us down super quickly and we were able to sit outside. The restaurant was clean and all the servers were extremely nice! I would definitely come back again for a full meal! read more
Dumpling time is one of our go-to spots at Santana Row! We love their $1 beer specials in the month of August (2025). The staff here are always welcoming, friendly, and fast while the decor and vibe are chill. Our favorite dish is their tom yum xlb! read more
Pros: Fast and attentive service. Nice environment. Reasonable price despite located in Santana Row. Cons: Food was just ok. The Garlicy Green Beans were too salty. Gyoza skin was too dense and not chewy. Tom Yum tasted ok. read more
The food was just okay, nothing special. The ambiance is nice and modern. The staff was friendly, but we waited for our order for quite a time. The location is pretty cool - after a meal you can walk along Santana Row. Parking is available at the garage not far from the street. read more
Man, me and my two girlfriends came here with a big appetite and ordered a bunch of different food and everything was mid. We were visiting from SoCal and we had high hopes for this places being as hungry as we were. We sat outside and the seating was great especially being able to check out Santana Row for Super Bowl weekend and the service was excellent. Our server took care of our every need, we loved him!! However, my rating is based on the taste of their food and the food lacked flavor big time. Nothing felt seasoned and the food didn't sit well with us. read more
1 year ago
Love this place. Have been coming for 3 years. Never disappoints. Nice food, service and ambience. Only suggestion: tell them to spread out the time you het served food so that it stays hot at the time of eating. Highly recommend! read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
Food 4.5/5 Service 5/5 Ambience 4.5/5 We've been frequenting Dumpling Time often in recent time. Our go to dishes are the chicken wings and chicken bao. Delish! We're often greeted by Jalen and Javier, who are always prompt and courteous with our orders and checking in on our dining experience. Great service + delicious food! read more
Ordered to go for an event. Pick up was at 11:30 AM. They open at 11 AM so I was a bit concerned about them being able to accomplish this. I called few days beforehand to ensure but they had some phone issues. Arrived and was pleasantly greeted. Majority of my order was correct but a very small handful required reminding. I don't blame them but sharing as education for those ordering in large quantities during opening. Be sure to check your order! Each meal came individually packed with hot sauce, soy sauce or vinegar. Along with chopsticks and napkins. Nothing dripped or leaked. Great service and experience overall. - Har Gow ($13) x3 - Pork XLB ($10) x6 - Chili Pork Dumpling ($15) x1 - Kimchi Jigaee XLB ($10) x2 - Shrimp and Egg Fried Rice ($23) x2 - Pork Gyoza ($13) x1 - BBQ Pork Bao ($13) x1 - Siu Mai ($15) -x1 read more
I love dumpling time and today's visit wasn't any different! We ordered the garlic green beans, pork XLB, seafood gyoza, and fried rice. I've had all of the items before except the seafood gyoza. That was my favorite of the night. It was so yummy and was similar tasting to a shrimp hargow. Very yummy! read more
1 year ago
I was craving dumplings and decided to check this place out. I ordered the seaweed salad, pho xlb, and chicken gyoza. Dessert was the bao trio. Everything was fresh and came out to me steaming hot. My favorite was the pho xlb as it was perfectly seasoned, I highly recommend. Please check this place out if you find yourself strolling down Santana Row. They have something for everyone :) read more
2 years ago
This is a nice upscale dim sum place. Definitely pricey and not the most traditional, but it has all the staples. The quality of the food is also tasty - my favorite is the shrimp toast, garlic green beans, and the sesame balls. The restaurant is super cute inside and has seating both inside and outside. The servers are super attentive and the food comes out pretty quick. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
Finallly got to try this place and let me tell you, yes it is pricy BUT the food is delicious and fresh. Ambiance: We asked for outdoors since it was a nice day. It does seem like they have a lot of room indoors and a decent outdoor seating. The staff is great and prompt. Food: - shrimp toast - 5/5 this is a must get trust me. - pork & shrimp sui mai - 5/5 stuffed meaty and juicy - chili pork dumpling - 4/5 good just wish it was spicier - XLB - 5/5 so good - wagyu beef gyoza - 3/5 sadly nothing to special I could skip this - vegan fried rice - 5/5 seasons and really good read more
1 year ago
We were originally on our way to get burgers but decided to give this place a try. The interior had a modern look, though it felt more like an upscale cafeteria than a distinctive dining experience. Service was just average--no one offered water refills, extra sauces, or even basic utensils like forks. We also weren't checked on to see if we wanted to order anything else and had to flag down different staff members for assistance. The Xiao Long Bao had a slightly thick wrapper, but the filling was flavorful with a rich, gelatinous broth. The Beijing Noodles portion was small--more suited for a toddler--and lacked flavor, with barely enough sauce to coat the noodles. The Beef Noodle Soup was bland, featuring small chunks of beef and a single overcooked piece of bok choy. The Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings were exactly as described. We really enjoyed the sweet, spicy flavor and the tender texture. Bonus points--they actually serve full wings, not just drumettes. I understand inflation and high rent are real concerns--especially with the added 6% "living wage" surcharge--but if I'm in the mood for solid dumplings, there are plenty of better options around the Bay Area. Can't say I'll be back. read more
9 months ago
The food was delicious and the server was super kind and welcoming. The atmosphere was really nice too. read more
My family and I decided to stop by for lunch on a Sunday afternoon around 12:30pm. I always like to take a stroll along Santa Row since there are a ton of restaurants and shops available. This restaurant has been on my list to try since they opened up. We didn't make a reservation, but there were plenty of tables available. I really like the modern decor of the restaurant. I was most excited for the chili pork dumplings but it was just ok. I didn't think the chili had enough flavor for the dumplings to soak up the sauce. The Beijing noodles were disappointing since it lacked flavor. The crispy sesame tofu could have been crispier. The best dishes were the har gow and seafood gyoza. Glad I was able to check this off my list since I've passed by multiple times. I would recommend sticking to the gyozas and dim sum. Did I mention that the setting is also superb! read more
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Ask the Community - Dumpling Time
Is dumpling time busy on a Wednesday night for dinner?
No, wait times are generally short
Are any of the dumpling options gluten free? If so, which ones?
None of the dumplings, but I'm sure you can order just a salad or vegetable side as a GF option. I would call the restaurant directly for more specific info or to make requests.
What time do they close and reopen?
Are there gluten free options on the menu?
No, there are none. Unless you get a salad or one of their delicious veggie options.
What time do they close?
They close at 9pm, last call 8:45pm as of today, dinner is 4-9pm! Closed on Monday!
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