Delish Chinese Food! It's not Din Tai Fung but it's not trying to be. The Juicy Pork dumpling was flavorful and juicy although my wife thought the noodle was slightly under, I enjoyed it al dente! The star of the show were the veggies, crisp, flavorful, and fresh tasting. This was Chinese done right! Highly recommended! read more

My wife and decided to give Mama Lu's a try last week on a Saturday early evening, I was familiar with the layout of the restaurant from the previous restaurant, the layout was pretty similar, it was light and open, the staff was busy but very attentive and friendly, the menu was quite extensive and I wanted to try everything but settled on few dishes, seafood pan fried noodles, crab and shrimp dumplings, sautéed Chinese broccoli and the house special fish fillet. It was quite a bit of food for 2 people but sometimes I get ahead of myself. The food came out incredibly fast, every was fresh, hot and delicious, I only wish I had ordered rice simply because of too many similar textures, but other than that, it was all delicious, still wanting a different texture, I decided to order chicken wings, they were hot, crispy and delicious. Overall it was a good experience, nice ambiance, wonderful staff and good food. Definitely will return, so many other things I'd like to try on the menu. read more

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I was told to go here for the dumplings would go back immediately for more dumplings. read more

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Craving for good Chinese food? This is the perfect place. Mama Lu's in Pasadena is our to-go place when we crave for Chinese food. Tasty and flavorful dishes at very reasonable price. Their service is amazing!!! We love their new place. read more

The entire meal was delicious! Every dish was tasty and on point for my taste buds. Every dish was made with fresh ingredients. My fav was a bottled coke. The just right amount of salt and flavor for every dish. Service was ok. The dishes came out pretty quickly. The only issue was lack of space on the table for all dishes. My favorite part of the restaurant was the impressive ceiling. There wasn't anything Asian inspired, but what counts is the food. read more

Service so so. I didn't know that not all Mama Lu's have the same menu. Went to Pasadena branch for my birthday. Was really looking forward to getting fried sole that I have had twice at the Baldwin Ave., Arcadia store. Pasadena didn't have it!!! I was very disappointed. And their food wasn't as good as Baldwin's. Plus we had to pay for parking! read more

They are closed at this location. Their restaurant in Chinatown is still open and street parking is easy to find. They have excellent dim sum as well as many traditional Chinese menu options. There is a side shop to order take out. Service is very attentive. read more

They have a huge selection of Chinese food and they all sound soo good. I tried their soup dumplings, garlic stir fry gai lan, scallion pancake, house special chicken, and chow mein. Soup dumplings: big size, on the sweet side Gai lan: I loved it but others may not like it because it has a slight bitter taste Scallion pancake: super thin and crispy House special chicken: already salty without the ginger scallion sauce, cold, not my favorite Chow mein: a tad too salty I would definitely come back to try their other dishes even though I feel like the items I ordered were a miss this time. read more

We get take-out when too lazy to drive to Monterey Park. Scratches the itch for Shanghai Chow Mein and Spicy Wontons.

Mama Lu in Pasadena doesn't taste the same. When entering, I was excited by the familiar decor and James Wang paper (iykyk). However, as the food starts to be served and eaten, they just don't have the quality as other Mama Lu locations. Perhaps depends on the items ordered? Beef Rolls 牛肉卷饼: to be fair, it tasted good. BUT, this is one of those dishes that you really can't mess up on (like fried rice). Beef rolls from any place with quality will generally tastes amazing, but this beef roll was a par below with minced beef instead of sliced and has a fried-too-long wrap. I think it might benefit by using a bit more sauce also. Pan Fried Bao 生煎包: the pork filling is juicy/watery but has not much flavor from the meat. Skin is super thick. House Special Fish: does not look like the picture on the menu. (The beef roll also didn't.) The saving graces of the meal was the chicken corn soup and the chives & shrimp dumplings. I'd recommend getting these. In addition, def try their spicy sauce (on the table) which makes things tastes better. Their vinegar sauce is slightly sweeter and what I usually use at home so it is also interesting and enjoyable to eat with. Lastly, you get to start off with some complimentary peanuts, lightly seasoned with sugar, on the table. read more

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We had a work event and we ordered at Mama Lu's to celebrate lunar new year and this was a delicious feast to celebrate and eat together. We ordered a variety of dumplings from chives and shrimp, crab, fish, pork, chicken. We got spicy dumplings as well and a lot of vegetarian dumplings. The fried egg rolls were good as well. The sweet buns were great with the sweet sauce. The scallions pancakes were a hit. The soup dumplings were tasty as well. They provided plenty of hot sauce and soy sauce and vinegar. Great take out experience. I will visit and dine in on site next time. read more

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First, the design of the interior seems like you transport back into old Pasadena. It made me wonder if this building was at one time a bank, or a lobby to a nice hotel. Adorned with chandeliers, and photos of the food - it felt quite chic to be inside. The food was delicious. We ordered the Shanghai Style Chow Mein, Juicy pork and crab dumplings, and spicy pork and shrimp wontons. When we order dumplings, we like to try different types, and order a noodle dish. The staff were kind, and hard working. The service was quick and efficient. Only thing, it was a little hard to get the attention of servers for water or napkins, but once we did, they were responsive. A great place to try for a Friday night dinner. They also have a full bar too. read more

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Went there on a Sunday, and it was uncomfortably hot inside. There was no ventilation. The 2 stars are for poor service. It took long to take our order and when we finally got it, it wasn't complete. My father waited for his order for 30 min after we got our food. When I went to remind the server, she snapped at me. I yelled back and that was it, we were fed up. We cancelled the order and then suddenly 10 minutes later it showed up, slightly warm and flavorless. We will never come here again. The food was better than the service. read more

I've been to a few different Mama Lu's and each have their own culture and style. This one in particular is a tad more modern. The food is good, and the service is great. I appreciated that we were not rushed throughout our meal! We will be back! read more

Great food and great experience I had with a bunch of Friends. Reasonably priced. I plan to come their alone just for lunch in the near future. read more

The building is very pretty and the food comes out quickly, but the food quality was pretty bad. The green onion pancakes were beyond greasy, and so were the pan fries dumplings. The steamed ones were a little better, but definitely not good. Prices were okay. For these three dishes, we paid around $30 total. Staff are very busy and we had to ask for the check. There was never a chance to order more food if we wanted it. We also had to ask for water and were not given a refill until we got the check. We were given a pot of tea at the start of the meal. read more

We were sat down but never given a menu. Waited for 15 minutes and in the meantime another table came to sit down. They were served within 5 minutes of sitting and still no one came to us to offer menus, water, or food. read more

Nothing special. Green onion pancakes tasted old. Dumplings were not exceptional. There are better options in the L.A. Chinese-American community. read more

Used to come here when it was called Chef Tony's. It's definitely not quite as posh as it used to be. But the dumplings were delicious and the pork buns super fresh and fluffy. Service is kind of slow. read more

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

The food was absolutely delicious! Every dumpling was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Simple menu, great taste, and well worth it. I'll definitely be coming back for more! read more

This location is not as crowded as their other spots, which made for a great experience. I called to make a reservation for 17 people, and they accommodated us perfectly. Since I arrived a bit early and it wasn't too busy yet, they were able to set up our tables right away. The menu features a wide variety, including Juicy Pork Dumplings (XLB style), Beef Wraps, Walnut Shrimp, Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, Deep Fried Whole Sole, and several rice and noodle dishes. We shared everything family-style, and the consensus was that the food is very good. My personal favorites were: -Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet -Deep Fried Whole Sole -Salted Fish & Chicken Fried Rice -Sautéed String Beans (I usually dislike string beans, so this was a pleasant surprise!) The complimentary tea and seasoned peanuts were a nice touch--my aunt liked the peanuts so much she even took some home! We were there to celebrate my brother's birthday. While they don't offer a free birthday cake, they provided complimentary deep-fried mantou (buns) served with condensed milk and a candle. They were perfectly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and the condensed milk was the perfect pairing. A note on the Din Tai Fung (DTF) comparison: Don't come here expecting a DTF clone just because they serve soup dumplings. While DTF is famous for their quality and variety of dumplings, this place offers a much wider selection of traditional non-dumpling dishes. It is also more affordable. Pro Tip: If your teapot is empty, leave the lid propped open or flipped over. That's the universal signal for the server to bring a refill! read more

We made the mistake of coming in after 8p. We ordered some shrimp and a Beijing Beef. The tea was ok. The entrees left something to be desired. The service, well, they wanted us to be anywhere but there. I cannot recommend based on food or service. read more

My husband and I was visiting from Florida. It was recommended by some friends that we try this place. When we walked in we were seated right away. With so much food on the menu we didn't know where to start so my husband asked our waitress. She wasn't helpful in making a choice but she told us we couldn't go wrong in whatever we selected. We went with the fried pork dumplings which was really greasy. We also ordered their sweet and sour chicken which was really good and there shrimp and pork rice which was also good. I thought the rice would have more protein in it. The ratio or rice to protein was poor. The restaurant itself was nice. Nothing fancy but it was clean. read more

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If you are expecting a Din Tai Fung dupe, this is not the place. However, this restaurant has great charm that other dumpling places lack. The inside reminded me of a Cheesecake Factory, with small splashes of Chinese decor sprinkled throughout. That's how I knew I was in for a good meal. My table ordered Sautéed Green Beans, Spicy Wontons, Juicy Pork Soup Dumplings, and the Shanghai Chow Mein. Spoiler alert--the Green Beans were surprisingly the best dish of the whole meal. This could also be because it was the only green, and not drenched in oil. The spicy wontons were my least favorite dish until I asked our server for ginger (highly recommend). It was a bit bland and overall too overwhelming with all the oil coating it. However, with ginger, the flavors were more balanced. I personally would not order this again. If you're a fan of thick cut noodles, the Chow Mein is for you. The first couple of bites were overall really delicious, but the sodium got to me after that. I barely touched this dish, but it was nice to have a carb in the meal. Lastly, the Juicy Pork Soup Dumpling is accurately advertised. Emphasis on JUICY. I have never had soup dumplings that filled with soup, so this was a 10/10. Explodes with juice and yummy broth when you take a bite. I would definitely go back just for this. Overall, the portions at this place are HUGE, so be aware of this when ordering. Came in hungry but walked out with a to-go container for every dish. Not a bad place, but not the best Chinese food i've ever had either. Fair pricing for the portions you get though. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - spicy wontons pork & shrimp(10) - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

The other locations. Fried rice was bland. Pork dumplings did not taste that great. Overall I would not recommend this location.

Super quick service, clean bathrooms (a plus)! And extensive menu! When you're seated, they give you a nice pot of tea and peanuts. Really large seating area as well. read more

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

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The place was not the cleanest but the food and service were top tier. My friend and I stumbled upon this place and we left quite satisfied by our experience. We highly recommend the dumplings! read more

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Not enough sauce in the meat roll No sesame ball offered on takeout menu Good soup dumpling Loved fish dumplings A little hot mustard would have complimented the fish All in pretty good read more

Food is delicious!! Flavorful, hot, large portions, served timely! Definitely a spot to bring people out to. The servers are pretty on top of the tables especially bc it can get busy. There's a good amount of seating too so it doesn't get too crowded. It's a laid back spot to meet up with friends and then browse around old Pasadena after. (also some of our pics were after we started grubbing! sorry was so hungry and forget to snap a pic before) read more

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We've only gotten the beef roll to go and that's all I needed to taste. It was delicious and extremely reasonably priced!! The only thing I wish was that the parking was better, but that's not their fault. We'll definitely be back to try the dumplings, but I highly, highly recommend the beef rolls. read more

Another day craving for Chinese food and here I go! Highlights of the menu: 1. Hot and sour soup 2. Stir-fried seafood udon with XO sauce 3. Shanghai rice cake 4. Kung pao chicken with peanuts 5. Yang Chow fried rice 6. Salt & pepper fried pork chops 7. French style beef tenderloin with mushrooms 8. Fish filet with soy sauce read more

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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 ever coming back to this location even the inside but so hot we were all sweating while eating. Not a good experience... read more

Rip off. No meat in the Shanghai noodles. Fried dumpling also tiny bit of meat. No Chinese here should have been a red flag. Avoid at all costs. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Wonton skin with scant meat - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Food was good, just like other locations. The service wasn't ok, we ordered 7 dishes but they still assigned us to a small table. The table was totally full with 5 dishes (the plates were sticking out already). When the waiter brought the 6th dish, he asked me where can he put the plate? I said you might need to ask the lady who assigned us this table. The waiter ended up left the plate on the other guest's table next to mine. One of the waiter also asked me, can she combine two plates into one? How can you mix up two different dishes? So unprofessional. The manager finally came and switched us to a bigger table. The service was terrible and staffs were not properly trained! read more

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

Experience genuine Chinese cuisine at its finest in Old Town Pasadena with the arrival of this gem. Reminiscent of the beloved Mama Lu's Dumpling House, the flavors here resonate authentically with palates both Chinese and international. Our recent feast included a delightful array: Hot and Sour Soup Stir-Fried Seafood Udon with X.O. Sauce French Style Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms Salt & Pepper Fried Pork Chops House Special Fish Filets Yang Chow Fried Rice Kung Pao Chicken with Peanuts Shanghai Stir-Fried Rice Cake Ovallets Regrettably, we overlooked the XLB (Xio Long Bao) dumplings this time, but that only means a swift return to savor them. Ideal for communal dining, this spot flourishes with its family-style servings. The more, the merrier, as it allows for an extensive exploration of their menu. Invite your Chinese friends along and witness their delight as Mama Lu's impresses even the most discerning palates. Trust me, it's an experience worth sharing! Plus the service is pretty quick as well. Come check Mama Lu's in Old Town Pasadena and enjoy! read more

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Quick and easy service. Super spacious and attentive staff. My favorite was the Szechuan Shrimp, highly recommend! read more

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

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*3.5 stars* This location is in a cute downtown area with tons of shops and other dining. You will likely have to park in a parking structure because parallel parking is a nightmare, but we were only around a block away. When we got there, we were seated right away, despite the restaurant being pretty small and cozy. I really wanted to like it, as I've had great experiences with the other locations, but the food ended up being okay. I would pass on the beef with chili oil and spicy wontons. I thought the soup dumplings were decent, just more on the doughy side (not pictured because they were devoured). My boyfriend and I loved the deep fried coconut buns though - these definitely carried the whole meal. Perfect texture and taste. Great extensive menu overall, so you can always try new things! read more

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Horrible all around, here are all the reasons why (along w/ pictures & a copy of my receipt): Our party of 4 walked in & instantly noticed the rushing staff and the lack of eye contact (we should have walked out at this point). Within a reasonable time the waitress appears, she looked annoyed, rushed, possibly angry & again no eye contact (which we could accept, if we felt welcome). We hoped the food would make up for the lack of service but it didn't. The food was horrible. Our rice had lettuce and corn, odd but ok. Broccoli beef was a bit odd tasting, it had a fishy undertone. The dumplings were very basic. The Green opinion pancake was a flat piece of boring flavorless bad greasy dough (as opposed to a flavorful green onion pancake). The smell from the ac vents was musty. All factors contributed to a bad dinner experience. We left regretting our visit. read more

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I've been to this restaurant before and had a great experience, which is why I recommended it to my friends for dinner on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, this time was completely different. Six out of the seven of us got food poisoning -- the only person who didn't get sick was the one who didn't eat the honey garlic pork chop. We ordered a lot of food, and I even took home leftovers without realizing that was the cause. I ate them the next day and ended up getting sick again. I had such intense stomach pain that I had to leave mid-meeting at work and it continued to the next day. It seriously disrupted my week. I called the restaurant to let them know, out of concern for others, and they told me to provide hospital documentation. I'm not going to rack up hospital bills just to report food poisoning -- I just wanted to do the right thing. I used to love this place and had high hopes when I brought my friends here. The food might still taste good, but it's not worth the vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and missed work. Eat here at your own risk. read more

Mama Lu's Dumpling House is one of those rare spots that delivers consistently delicious food every single time regardless if its dine in or takeout. The dumplings (and everything else on the menu) are packed with flavor, and the serving sizes are massive. You definitely get your money's worth here. Service is lightning fast, so whether you're dining in or grabbing takeout, you won't be waiting long. It's a no-frills, no-fuss kind of place, which I appreciate. If you're craving solid dumplings and hearty portions without the hype, this is the spot. read more