Large portion and taste great. Price was reasonable. Had reservation for 8 people. Parking was in the structure next door off Fair Oaks Ave. read more

As someone who raves over Mama Lu's Dumpling House, my opinion has shifted. On a Friday afternoon, I came to this restaurant with 6 other friends, hyped. Our food came out quickly, but there was only one problem, service. First of all, we ordered the beef rolls, and they're all attached, so we requested scissors to cut them. The lady looks at us and says no simply for no reason, at least provide an explanation. My friends and I are just trying to enjoy our time here and the waiter keeps glaring at us. These 2 workers we don't have the name of don't even seem like they enjoy their job, making our experience even more unpleasant. They gave us attitude just for asking for an extra spoon. Besides that, the food was decent... I only go to this location, because it is the nearest one towards home. I normally don't give bad reviews, but I was so disappointed. If you want to try Mama Lu's, go to another location, they're much better... read more

Tried the new location & ordered several dishes, all good. Very large portions so enough leftovers for another two meals. Definitely will return. read more

Mama Lu's Dumpling House is right in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, which makes it a perfect stop while exploring the area. Parking can be a little tricky, but there are plenty of nearby options if you don't mind paying a small fee. I parked in a garage just a block away--only $1 for the first two hours, which isn't bad at all. The vibe was much nicer than I expected inside. Chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, framed pictures of meals adorning the walls, and an unexpected mix of elegant grandeur and retro Art Deco charm. There's a classic yet cozy atmosphere, making it feel like a place where you could have a refined meal but still feel totally at ease. I ordered the garlic string bean chicken and the pan-fried dumplings, and both totally hit the spot. The chicken was flavorful with just the right amount of garlic, and the green beans still had that fresh snap to them. The dumplings were crisp on the bottom, juicy on the inside. Great food, decent prices, and a surprisingly classy ambiance--Mama Lu's is definitely worth a visit, whether you're grabbing takeout or dining in. read more

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OG location in Monterey Park is better! The flavors were incredibly OFF at this location and it was really disappointing because I love the one in MP. The vibe feels a little more 'fancy' then the one in MP, which has more of a hole-in-the-wall vibe to it. We ordered the green onion pancake (felt overcooked and very thin), the house special fish filet (lacked a lot of flavor and wasn't really 'crispy' on the outside as most other Asian cafes do it..), the stir fry green beans (the best thing there was but the flavor wasn't evenly distributed), and the hot and sour soup (something about it tasted like unfiltered water). Service seemed all over the place. At first, our waitress seemed very eager to take our order. Then once we got out food, she seemed to never come around anymore. I would not come back to this location. read more

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So the food was great! Once we ordered, it came out fast. However... it was SO HOT in there. It was 90 degrees outside and 83 inside but it felt hotter in there. It was so uncomfortable Also we waited 28 minutes sitting at our table before I went up front to ask someone if we could please get our orders taken. No one had even acknowledged us after sitting us down beforehand. It would be more understandable if someone came and said "sorry we will be with you in just a moment", but that wasn't the case. Lastly the parking was a bit difficult and stressful, but I feel like that is to be expected in that area of Pasadena so we were prepared for that. So yes, while the food was great, I don't think we will be coming back again. Unfortunately, as I have loved there other locations. read more

My girlfriend and I had an impromptu dinner after work and it was her turn to choose a restaurant. We are both on a diet and didnt really want to eat a lot ao we thought about dumplings. Upon searching yelp, we found this place and decided to try it out. Ive been to other Mama Lu's location but never ordered their dumplings. We got the beef wrap and spicy wonton. The beef wrap was huge and very flavorful but it was on the oily side for us. Ive had beef wrap in other places and I can say that this is one is the most oily one. The spicy wonton wasnt even spicy but still it was good. We were there for 2 hours and never felt that we were being rushed. The prices were reasonable. Service was great. We will be back for sure. read more

Good solid Chinese food in Old Town Pasadena. Fried pork chop is crispy and bursting with flavor. Pork and bean curd strips in garlic sauce is a Shanghainese dish done well here - highly recommend. read more

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The quality of food and service was a bit rough. Shumai and various dim sum wrapping textures were overcooked and soggy. A bit disappointing. Service was chaotic. read more

This place is great and gets the job done. The dumplings and pea sprouts that we got were quite good, the green onion pancake and beef roll were notably great. The prices were also quite reasonable. I'd definitely be back if I lived in Pasadena. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

[August 28, 6:10PM] The cuisine's style is closer to Shanghainese than Cantonese. Food is great, service can use some work. Upon seated, the chair was covered in food residues...eeek - Zha Jiang Mian (热炒炸酱面, $13.99, 4/5): I chuckled when I saw it, almost thought we had the wrong item (waitress confirmed it was zha jiang mian). It was sweet, spicy, and covered in this thick, sticky sauce. Although it tastes very good, it's not your traditional zha jiang mian. - Soup-Filled Siu Mai (灌汤烧卖, $9.99, 3/5): Definitely let my curiosity got the best of me... It was just 4 xiao long bao (XLB) in disguise + shrimp on the top. But for the same price, you can get 8 regular XLB. The two tasted exactly the same, except XLB had more soup since there was no shrimp. - Juicy Pork Dumplings (小笼汤包, $9.99, 5/5): Delicious. Thin skin. Soupful bite. Definitely one of the best XLB I had. - Beef Wrap (牛肉卷饼, $11.54, 4/5): My first beef wrap, and it was full of meat! I had to eat it from the side instead. But they really need to add more sauce... I didn't even realize there were sauces until I ate my second roll. read more

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Came in here on a Sunday evening, place was pretty packed but we were greeted and seated within 5-10 mins. We ordered the honey garlic pork (very yummy, a tad chewy breading) , the egg and corn soup (I typically don't like soups with egg in them like this one but this was delicious), the soup dumplings, pork chive and shrimp dumplings as well as the sautéed green beans to share. Sautéed green beans were by far my favorite dish- excellent flavor and still with a bit of crunch (with a bit of soy sauce and their chili oil they're absolutely perfect) Only non positive note is the bathroom was pretty gross and our server was not friendly (However it was very busy and as somebody who's been a server that could've just been because she had so many other tables) Butttt she did only come to our table twice, to get our drink order and to get our food order. We had also said we'd like to order an additional dish but hadn't decided yet and asked to have a minute and she never came back. So we went to the counter and added the green beans, no biggie but potential for improvement in server interactions or maybe more staffing so employees can provide better service to their tables. Aside from those two things it was a great meal and I would definitely come back when in town again read more

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Finally, a Mama Lu's in Pasadena! I've been a longtime fan of Mama Lu's, so I'm glad I finally got to check out the Pasadena location. Overall, this new location lives up to Mama Lu's name! Everything was still well-priced for the portion sizes, and the service and food were great. My friend and I ordered 4 of our usual favorite dishes and got to pack 2 full containers home since the portions were so big. The Juicy Pork Dumplings (8) always amazes me for the price being $9.99 and because they are made well with flavorful broth inside. They don't automatically give you ginger to dip the dumpling so we had to ask, which was no problem. The Yang Chow Fried Rice $14.99 came with probably two handfuls of big shrimp. It was fluffy and had great wok hei. The Egg Tofu with Mixed Mushrooms $15.99 is my favorite, only because of the silky fried tofu and my favorite mushrooms. The Fish with Seaweed $15.99 was tender on the inside and cooked just right - the seaweed also added a nice umani depth to it, and although it was fried, it was very lightly battered so it didn't feel too heavy. The restaurant itself is bright and clean, with friendly staff who seated us quickly. The only minor challenge was the seating, and it was a little squishy for two people who ordered four dishes. We made it work, but our table was definitely packed! My friend and I parked down the street in a structure that was $11 for the whole day on a Saturday - not bad! read more

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Just amazing I have no words. I had the French style beef it was perfect and the beef chow fun, chicken wings, chicken dumplings everything was perfect. 10/10 read more

Honestly I've been to Mama Lu's in Monterey park and I had a good experience. I went to this mew location in Pasadena and it was not it. First off the service is very poor. They don't attend you well, they get the orders wrong and don't even apologize. The employees don't seem like to be there which makes it an unpleasant experience. The food was okay but it did feel pretty bland. Maybe I won't be coming back to this location even the inside felt so hot we were all sweating while eating. read more

So happy Mama Lu's is now open in Pasadena. The East side locations are still better but the food here is always consistent. Service is quick and the food comes out quick. Top favorites are the beef rolls and the juicy pork XLB. read more

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Walking into this restaurant you can tell it's loved by the amount of people inside. We were seated shortly as I see they have used their space to fit as many tables as possible for happy customers. When the food came and we took our first bite..it felt as if we were eating a home cooked meal. The food came out FAST and the portions are very generous. It was just me and a friend but I'm sure the four plates we orders were enough to feed four people. Mama Lu's meal sent us home with leftovers to have for a delicious snack later. My favorite was the juicy spicy dumplings. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - 31) Beef Chow Fun () 5) Green Onion Pancake () 16) Spicy Wontons Pork & Shrimp (8 pcs) Sautéed Chinese Brocolli - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Beef rolls were disappointing. Had close to no meat and was wrapped inside a scallion pancake instead of traditional dough. Beef chow fun had tiny amounts of beef, mainly noodle and bean sprouts, not worth the price at all. Spicy wontons were good and pork XLB. read more

There seems to be an apparent dominance in the Chinese Dumpling landscape. You know who I am talking about. But is there another worthy competitor, that can be challenging or even be better? I would state a resounding YES. It is Mama Lu's Dumpling House. Advertised as a Chinese dumpling house with a Taiwanese twist, they are expanding. I chose to dine at the location that was closest to me, it was Pasadena. Still, a 30-mile one way drive from the SFV. And fully worth every long mile. Once I got to my table, there were peanuts, lightly fried with a perfectly balanced mix of salt and sweetness. A fantastic and unique complimentary welcome. I have had peanuts before, but this type of mix was unprecedented for me. Never had anything like this before. Nothing short of WOW. At Mama Lu's, it was my wish to compare apples with apples, in terms of the hovering competition in this domain. So I ordered two items. First, the Spicy Wontons (Pork and Shrimp). At $11.99, with eight succulent fresh pieces, this dish blew me away. The wontons sat on a small lake of ruby colored chili oil, scallions and peanuts. Yes, peanuts, why did not anyone think of this? An absolutely amazing and harmonious mix of flavor, texture, softness, chew, crunch and oil. I kept souping up the peanuts, scallions and oil, with the wonton remnants. So far....this was, and will always be, an unforgettable wonton experience. Then I ordered the Sautéed String Beans. It was a huge portion ($14.99), beautifully prepared, with fresh bite, good green color, optics, char and taste. Another spectacular dish. The restaurant is a bustling hub for visitors (and tourists) that come to Old Pasadena. Servers are efficient and skilled in handling this very high influx of traffic and impatient customers . With all this hub a bub, surprisingly, food does comes out fast ...and fresh. Wait times are impressively, minimal. Yes, this restaurant deserves more visits. There is so much more on this vast and diverse menu that warrants copious discovery. Add it to your calendar, just like me. read more

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Unfortunately I have to give a bad review due to food poisoning when I dined a few days ago. I love this place BUT their Mongolian Beef entree did a number on me. It did taste a little different, and I just attributed that to a different set of ingredients, but it's obvious that nobody else had that entrée but me and I'm the only one that got sick. I'm just putting this up for caution. read more

Wonton soup was on point but everything else was lacking in flavor. The Singapore noodles they said would be spicy, but they weren't spicy at all. They did have decent amount of curry all in all I wouldn't come back, but it wasn't disgusting. read more

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All the buildings in Old Town Pasadena are beautiful, but the interior of this Mama Lu's is brilliant, with the shining chandeliers and artwork on the ceilings. The food, however, can be described in one word: bland. We ordered many dishes: green onion pancakes, spicy wontons, potstickers, fish, soup dumplings, etc. and the flavors across everything were barely present. The best dishes were the string beans and salt and pepper chicken wings, but everything else lacked the flavor that the dishes should have. I suggest the Mama Lu's in Monterey Park for the rich and deliciousness these dishes should embody. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Interior - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Stopped by for a hungry late dinner and to celebrate the Lunar New Years Eve with some yummy dumplings. The wait time was said to be 45min but overall we waited only 15min. The staff was friendly throughout but busy from beginning to end so with a little attention calling gestures (it was needed) from beginning to end we were served. We ordered quite a few items so they were also nice enough to move us to a larger table. Overall everything tasted great but the hot dumplings hit the spot! First time for me at this location. The decor is simple with grand chandeliers, a full bar, and a few private dining areas. Unfortunately the restrooms are downstairs and i didn't see any handicap access. There's plenty of parking in the nearby parking structure on Green or metered street parking and both are very inexpensive (we paid $3 for 2-3hrs). read more

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Mama lu's used to be a spot for my dumpling cravings. Now, it is just a disappointment. The shengjian bao was extremely soggy and there wasn't a single drop of soup. I can buy better quality bao at kang kang food court. Kung Pao was also pretty mediocre and felt it lost its authenticity. The best dish we had was the chicken corn soup. However, service was awesome. They were fast and quick to deliver. read more

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Excellent food. We have been 20+ times and brought a lot of friends. Great service, nice ambiance, and, of course, delicious food. It sure "ain't the Ritz" and it hardly compares to Mr. Chow's - but it is not supposed to. In my rating scheme, I have to be willing to make a massive detour just to dine here to give stars, and in this case, I certainly would. Highly recommended, especially when traveling on a budget. Most of the entrees easily feed two. read more

We actually came here for Christmas meal and it was was very cozy! We ordered the classic steamed pork dumplings, egg tofu with mushrooms, and French style beef. The French style beef stood out the most to me - very very tender and perfectly seasoned. You can taste the black pepper but it's not overpowering. I also personally love the mushrooms in this dish - the mushrooms soaked up all the flavors and give off a very umami taste! The steamed dumplings are great as well - there is soup in the dumplings so just be careful since they are hot! They usually have a pretty long line so don't be surprised if you have wait a bit! read more

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We were starving after church and we needed to eat before checking out an activity in Pasadena. We've never been here, so we were looking forward to checking it out. The parking garage is a short walk away. We stayed in Pasadena for awhile so we ended up paying only $5. Once we got to Mama Lu's, we saw the wait inside the SMALL waiting area with no seats and we saw some people standing outside. What caught my attention the most was how disorganized it was, not like in Chinatown. The person/hostess who was supposed to be at the front was also running back and forth among guests who were ready to pay. They REALLY need to hire more help! We were lucky to get a table before some other guests because there were only four of us. We were ready to order, so we got our order taken right away. The time it took to get our food was really quick which was impressive. What I didn't like was that I couldn't ask/stop anyone for more water which I hate. The aisles were pretty narrow so definitely no carts at this place. We ordered two different items that we've never had and I hate to say it, but I didn't like them very much. Thank goodness for the chili oil that was already at our table when we sat. I didn't care for the beef wrap. It definitely tasted decent after using chili oil with every bite. I didn't care for the soggy fried pork buns. I loved the juicy dumplings even though they weren't juicy enough. I loved the string beans. Would I come back? MAYBE. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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There are a lot of food options and we liked the soup and noodles. The portions are big so you can definitely share. read more

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Authentic and traditional Chinese family style restaurant with a Taiwanese twist The go-to place for freshly made dumplings. They have the best juicy pork dumplings in the Los Angeles & San Gabriel valley area. Pure bliss in every bite! A hot pot of jasmine tea and sugared peanuts were served as we checked out the menu. LOVE jasmine tea!! What we tried: Chinese Spinach & Pork Wonton Soup Juicy Pork & Crab Dumplings Shanghai Rice Cake Seafood Udon with XO sauce (MUST-TRY) Perfect for any gathering or date night! Great customer service There is a parking structure about a 5 min walk from restaurant: $1 for the first 2 hours! read more

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Been here a few times. It's downtown Pasadena, parking isn't gonna be great, but there is a parking garage just across the street if you're willing to pay. The service has always been good and attentive. It's not uncommon for me to have to ask 3 or 4 servers to get anything (water, check, napkins, etc) at a Chinese spot, but this place gets it to you the first time. Buns, dumplings, veggies, rice cakes, all above average and tasty. Would be happy to come back anytime. read more

We dropped by Mama Lu's Dumpling House in Pasadena on a busy Sunday afternoon around 3pm, and despite the crowd, we were seated pretty quickly--which was a great start. Since we were planning to stroll through downtown Pasadena and save room for more eats later, we kept it light and ordered just three starters: pork dumplings, the beef wrap, and the spicy pork & shrimp wontons. The spicy pork & shrimp wontons were the clear standout--perfectly cooked, drenched in that savory-spicy sauce, and packed with flavor. Definitely the dish I'd come back for. The beef wrap was also solid, coming in as a close second--crispy, chewy, and nicely seasoned. The pork dumplings were decent, though a bit more on the standard side compared to the other two. Service was fast, food came out hot, and the prices were reasonable. Great little stop for a quick bite with lots of flavor. Next time I'll come hungrier. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Spicy pork and shrimp 16) Spicy Wontons Pork & Shrimp (8 pcs) ()wonton - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Mama Lu's Dumpling House on bustling Colorado Boulevard is one of those spots that never disappoints. It's tucked right into the heart of Pasadena's shopping scene, making it a perfect stop after a stroll through the area. One thing I always look forward to here is their green onion pancake--crispy, flavorful, and easily one of the best around. On this visit, I tried the fried rice, and it didn't miss. Like everything on the menu, it was clearly made for sharing, with generous portions that are great for groups or if you're planning on taking leftovers home. Every table gets a small dish of seasoned peanuts and a pot of hot tea to start, a nice traditional touch that sets the tone. That said, this isn't the ideal spot for solo dining unless you come hungry or don't mind packing up the rest. There's a parking lot nearby, which makes access easy, though be aware--they don't validate. Fortunately, the parking is still reasonably priced for the area. Service here is consistent with every visit. They take your order and bring the food promptly, but don't expect much more. It's efficient, not warm, and they mostly leave you to enjoy your meal without interruption. Bottom line: If you're craving solid dumplings, flavorful plates, and a casual, no-fuss dining experience in Pasadena, Mama Lu's delivers. Great for groups, not ideal for solo eaters, but the food more than makes up for it. Just don't skip the green onion pancake. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Complimentary peanuts and hot tea. - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Fast service and delicious food. Really enjoyed all of it. Will be back soon to try more. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - 8. Beef Wrap (6), sautéed garlic green beans. 6. Pan Fried Dumplings (6). 1. Juicy Pork Dumplings (8) not shown - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Affordable dumpling house in Pasadena! They start you off with hot tea and roasted peanuts before you order. Food was great and service was quick. Do not skip out on those juicy pork dumplings, green beans, or Shanghai chowmein. Definitely a great place to come with a big group of people. (6 rounds of dumpling, 1 fried rice, 1 chowmein, and 1 green beans fed 8 people for less that 130$) read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Chicken Fried Rice, 11. Shrimp, Chive & Pork Dumplings (8) - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I love Mama Lu's and I will always recommend this place! First time at this location. Typically go to the city of industry. Parking is super easy at the parking garage. The place was packed, we got sat fairly quickly. Food came out fast as always! Can't complain! Highly recommend, affordable, family style, the BEST! read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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They moved to the old 85 degrees location in Pasadena!! Bigger space!! Some folks were saying they closed but they just expanded!!! Amazing food and fast service as always!!! The BEST mama Lu's location in town!! The other mama Lu's don't have as tasty chilli wonton. IM TELLING YOU THIS ONE IS THE best!!! I tried Monterey park. Downtown.. nothing compares to this one!! read more

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This review is for ordering online and pick up in person. Their online ordering system is easy to use and please. Finding parking to go pick up the food was a different story. We were luck we only circled twice before we found parking on the street with the meters. When we got the restaurant they are ready seat you. We told them we have a pick up. She pointed at the bar like area. We stood around and no one knowledge us. We had to stop a staff member walking by she yelled at someone after the bar area. She found our order. We ordered: Chive Fried Pancake, Fried Pork Bun, Pan Fried Pork Dumplings, Chive & Pork Dumplings, Shanghai Style Chow Mein, & House Special Fish Fillet. Everything was delicious and well seasoned. read more

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Decent price for decent food. Ordered takeout of their beef rolls and beef chow fun - the beef rolls were too greasy and too fatty for my taste, while the beef chow fun was too oily and did not taste authentic. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Beef roll - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

what's not to like about mama lus!? huge portions, quick service, and very yummy food at reasonable prices. this place is great for family style eating so take a date or your family and friends and you're sure to be satisfied! read more

Such a staple in the 626 community. Love that they opened a location in Pasadena so I don't have to drive all the way to Monterey park. Decor is pretty standard of any Chinese restaurant. Service is great and prompt. The moment you walk in the establishment you get seated right away. They got our orders pretty quickly and the dishes came out fast too. Green beans: 5/5 always a go to in a Chinese restaurant. It's kind of a dish that I typically order as a tester dish to see if the Chinese restaurant is legit. Garlicky, crunchy green beans packed with flavor. I can eat a ton of these easily. Fried pork buns: 3/5 the dough wrapping is a little too thick for my taste, the buns tasted quite dry as well. Filling is good though, flavorful but the thick dough kind of takes away from how good the filling is. Salt and pepper wings: 4/5 crunchy and SO flavorful. Wings are fried to perfection. Not as good as the phoenix salt and pepper wings but definitely a contender in my opinion Seafood pan fried noodle: 4/5 any pan fried noodles is a staple of any Hong Kong cafe. Good flavor, well cooked seafood, and texture from the crunchy noodles makes for a great meal read more

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