Closed permanently as of June 22, 2025…read more Had many good meals here. Very unfortunate! Will miss this location!

Stumbled upon Dumpling Kitchen while I was in the area…read more Two of us ordered: kurobuta pork soup dumpling 8 pcs $11.95 beef roll pancakes $7.95 dry braised string beans 13.80 steamed shrimp and pork shumai $11.95 Could definitely go without the shumai. Everything else was decent. Put your name down if there is a line. It was a bit unorganized to get a seat and ordering took some time.

I've been here a couple of times and each time the food has been good! Others seem to rave about…read morethe double skin as well as sauteed crab meat with steamed buns so I'll have to get those next time. 1. Peking roast duck 3.5/5 I had really high expectations and unfortunately this roast duck was just okay. The skin was not super crispy but the duck itself had good flavor. The plum sauce was probably my favorite part. 2. Salt and pepper prawns 4.5/5 Note that these come with the skin on but it's fried so perfectly that the skin is completely edible with a crunchy texture. 3. Combination fried rice 5/5 I was surprised how much we enjoyed this but it was really well done. 4. Guo ta fish fillet 5/5 This was excellent--very tender fish fillet with a perfect soy broth sauce 5. Crysanthemum leaves with fermented tofu sauce 3/5 On the salty side All in all, even though I came for the peking duck, I found that the other items were much better!

When I first heard of Great China, I assumed it would be more of a casual neighborhood mom-and-pop…read morespot, but I was definitely wrong. It's actually a popular, higher-end Chinese restaurant in downtown Berkeley, and judging by the number of people waiting to be seated on a weekend only 30 minutes after opening, it clearly does very well. One note: I often see long weekend lines forming even before opening, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation or arriving early. We came here with one thing in mind: Peking duck. It was prepared beautifully, with the exact nostalgic flavor and crispy skin I was hoping for. I also loved the way they presented the thin pancakes--half-folded and slightly overlapping each other--so you didn't have to worry about peeling each layer apart and accidentally ripping them. The dipping sauce and green onions were provided on the side, though I do wish they included thinly sliced cucumber to complete the experience. My husband also ordered the fish, which turned out soft, delicate, and delicious. It was a nice complement to the duck and rounded out the meal really well. My only real critique of Great China is the pricing. You're definitely paying a premium here, but the food does taste authentic and well-executed. Given the limited competition in the area, I can see why it feels justifiable if you live nearby. That said, it may not be as worth the splurge for people who already have easy access to more traditional, old-school Chinese restaurants.

One of my favorite local spots to bring friends and family from out of town to experience. This…read moreplace does not disappoint. My favorites are the Shandong chicken and their signature hand-pulled noodles, so delicious! They are a popular spot so depending on when you go, can be a bit of a wait to get seated. It's not that big and can be a little tight inside. However, there's a reason why they stay busy, because their food is worth the wait! This place is a must when in Oakland and looking for some really tasty Chinese food.

Well in the area for a little festival but they hadn't started yet and I was hungry so I wandered…read moredown to this hyped restaurant so see what all the fuss was about. ( This had been on my radar to DoorDash) Suprisingly I was seated quickly as it was 12:30 on a Sunday. The menu is quite extensive. I'd been craving chili sauce dumpling and I saw those on the menu and ordered spicy combination noodles. At the waitress suggestion and reading previous reviews I opted for the hand pulled (warning they are a $1 more). Service was quick and I was also served a pot of nice oolong tea. Now the dumplings were spot on thought I had to add more chili sauce. The hand pulled noodles were ok. Maybe because I'm not a big chowmein person and prefer the chowfun noodles, I found them too chewy for me. Also I had to add the chili sauce too. I also ordered to go greens and Black eared mushrooms. There is plenty of food and I have food for two days as I have rice a home to go with the greens. I think I'll stick with New Gold Medal though.

RIP to my favorite restaurant. i was here basically monthly with family/friends. favorite worker…read morewas the guy in the pikachu cap, tho i haven't seen him in forever. the ambiance was always so calm, nothing felt rushed and it all went at a great pace. the food was to die for, it had so many flavors. my favorite was definitely the pork belly noodle soup. I will forever miss this place and the memories that went along with it!

Special Noodle is located in Pacific East Mall towards the back. Ordered a pretty big spread that…read moreconsisted of beef rolls, dumplings, fried rice, and salt and pepper chicken bites. The dumplings were delicious and even better with some chili oil. The chicken fried rice had huge chunks of egg and chicken which I loved with a deep soy flavor. The salt and pepper chicken was decent, I think I prefer salt and pepper wings/fish/shrimp. The beef rolls weren't for me, though. It's typically one of my favorite dishes but it seemed to be lacking beef & I wasn't a fan of the lettuce filling or the roll itself being a bit too soft and doughy. Overall, a good experience. Our server was nice and everything came out quick!

Yummy dumplings! Made fresh in front of you. Great service…read more Had the Shanghai pork soup dumplings.

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.

I love SiChuan Style! I've been supporting their restaurant for over 4 years now and always find…read moremyself coming back to this spot. I even introduced this restaurant to my friends and they also love the food quality as well. I recommend their spicy sichuan water boil special. There's a perfect amount of spiciness and flavor that pairs well with a side of rice. I also like their beef shank and tripe appetizer; their portion sizes are always huge and perfect for family style sharing. Servers are very attentive, friendly, and fast. It's also always clean and affordable.

Me and the wifey couldn't decide on a place to eat and wound up in Solano Avenue. We looked up a…read morecouple of Yelp spots and decided to give this place a try. I am glad we did because I was not disappointed. The place was busy but the service was prompt and excellent. We had ordered three dishes to share family style with rice. First off let me start by saying the portions are generous. All three of the dishes were a hit but to me the star of the show was the garlic chicken. The sauce was excellent! If spicy is your thing then order the beef, it was loaded with peppers! Finally the walnut prawns were nice counter to the garlic and peppers. We also ordered steamed rice to go with the meal. This was an excellent choice and we will most definitely be back.

I was looking for a late night option in the area, and Shanghai Dumpling King stood out to me!! My…read moreboyfriend and I got the chicken corn soup, the cha siu bao, siu mai, and liu sha bao. The chicken corn soup was delicious and hearty- definitely filled me up and was what I was looking for. The cha siu bao was fluffy and came packed with meat inside, definitely a good ratio and very warm and yummy. The liu sha bao was similar, the bao was so soft and fresh. We had a very good experience dining here. The front desk guy/server was also really nice. I would definitely come back here if I was craving an authentic Chinese meal.

[Takeout Order] What an absolute bummer. An old colleague of mine and I loved going to their…read morerestaurant on Monterey Blvd and it was always so delicious. Naturally, I thought the same would be for this location, ordering for delivery. Sadly, I was proved very very wrong. I got a total of 3 items and paid a little over $50 not including tip.First plate, stir fry noodle Shanghai style 0/5. Noodles were stiff, entire plate lacked flavor, it was really dry. The cabbage was just sort of thrown in there and to my surprise, there was chicken (I didn't think it came with meat) and it was so suspicious, one bite and I immediately had to spit it out. It was chewy and tasted uncooked. I began to lose my appetite... Sesame Chicken 0/5 - it was all batter, little to NO meat inside whatsoever. Saucy but it was very clumpy. I was so disappointed with this one. It was literally just eating fried batter in sesame sauce with sesame seeds thrown on top. Braised String Beans - 2.5/5. They were fine, flavored enough with the grilled onions and garlic other than that, not impressive at all. I had really high hopes for this place/order. I had been craving Chinese food for so long and was going to order from my typical place but decided to give this one a try. I definitely should have stuck to what I know would have hit the spot. An absolute waste of $50, so frustrating.

Normally, I would write this in the "Tips" section but it's no longer available…read more I am sad to share that this restaurant will close on 6/15/25, final day of service. The owners, the Shen family, are retiring. When they opened in 2008, replacing two popular Chinese western food restaurants, they were a refreshing addition to the mainly Cantonese cuisine Chinatown community. There was only a small Shanghai literal hole in the wall spot across the street that closed many years ago. The mom did the cooking while the daughter ran the front of the house, literally producing home style Shanghainese cuisine. They have regular normal northern cuisine favorites like hot & sour soup and mapo tofu, small bites like XLB (soup dumplings), green onion pancakes, and Sheng jian bao (pan fried dumplings). I often had family style dinners here enjoying Shanghai staples like Lion's head meatballs, Shanghai stir fried shrimp (use that blank vinegar), braised pork shank, and stir-fried eel. Never had the pleasure in trying their Dong Po pork. Get their steamed rice with bacon and vegetable to accompany those saucy dishes. With their departure, I do not know of any authentic Shanghai restaurants in San Francisco... clue me in if you think of one. The closest that comes to mind now is in San Mateo off the top of my head. Thank you, Bund Shanghai and Shen Family for providing my family, my coworkers, and me many meals over the years. You will be sorely missed but enjoy your retirement.

An institution is going away! If you're reading this then I want you to know that the last day of…read moreoperation is June 15, 2025. The chef is retiring, so wish them a congrats and farewell if you're stopping by soon. I can definitely taste the authenticity behind the dishes. While I thought the crab sauce tofu was a bit too sweet and the rice cakes too salty, there wasn't a single bad dish. It's hard to find Shanghainese food in DTSF and I'm sad to see this one go. If you find yourself here, do order the stir-fried eel, XLB, pickle and ham steamed rice, and the Sheng Jian Bao. Overall, it was worth a visit and hope the area gets more Shanghai cuisine in the near future.

I love the egg drop and seaweed soup, and the long baos. The sautéed green beans are some of the…read morebest in the neighborhood. Lots of well maintained seating and an attentive and efficient staff. Well balanced background music. They have both physical and QR code menus.

We were the first to arrive, so they were kind enough to let us in to sit til they opened…read more We ordered lots of food you'll see in the photos, pretty good choices but they were out of beef, you would think they would be prepared for weekends because I heard other tables trying to also order beef noodle soup. Their prices are steep, much higher than other Bay Area restaurants serving that same style of food. Service was good, got too see the ladies wrapping all types of dumplings. Would return to eat again

This is a cute little noodle and tea house that really hit the spot. I was craving noodles, and…read morethey definitely delivered. I ordered the Canton Seafood Stir Fry, which came with plenty of seafood and fresh-tasting noodles. The portion was generous, and everything came together really well. My husband ordered the Sweet & Sour Chicken, and he really enjoyed it too. It even came with rice, which feels like a nice bonus these days! Another pleasant surprise--they serve wine, too! We'll definitely keep this place in mind the next time we're craving noodles.

I was looking for a decent Taiwanese beef noodle soup and decided to give this place a try…read more I ordered the Taiwanese beef noodle soup, which came with beef shank, baby bok choy, pickled mustard greens, and scallions. Unfortunately, I wasn't very impressed. The beef shank was tough and difficult to chew, and the broth didn't have the rich, balanced flavor that I expect from a good Taiwanese beef noodle soup. I wouldn't recommend ordering this dish. On the other hand, I also tried one of their house specials, the Jiangxi Stir-Fry. It featured rice noodles with beef flank, bell peppers, baby bok choy, and spicy chillies. This dish was great, flavorful, well-seasoned, and packed with wok hei.