This dumpling shop has multiple locations. I found it quite confusing ordering online. Some of them have online ordering and others don't. They have confusing names. The menus have not always been the same when I looked. But to their credit, when I placed an order at the "downtown" location only to discover that they meant something other than Charlottesville's pedestrian arcade (which is where this one is), I was able to call them and get it corrected. My order was transferred over and was ready for me with no trouble. The vegetable dumplings weren't fancy, but there were a ton of them, and what seemed a small sauce proved more than enough. I also got a veggie bun, but the filling was so trivial as to not really be worth it. This place does have some space to eat in, although it seems most popular as a takeout. read more

Marco & Luca - Steamed Vegetarian Dumplings (6) - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I'm always on the search for dumplings, so seeing this local chain caught my attention. With a limited menu, I had high hopes that they'd hit on all items. While the flavors were decent, I'm relatively sure this is pretty standard frozen steam buns and dumplings from an Asian market marked up quite a lot. The dumplings seem extremely similar to the Way Fong frozen dumplings (probably my favorite brand of frozen dumplings), except they're deep fried and covered with a lot of sauce. The sauce and dumplings aren't bad, but the sauce overpowers the nice flavor of the dumplings. The steam buns are fine, but I think they're reheating them in a microwave. What happens is the dough gets really tough/chewy within a minute or so once it's out of the microwave. If you like the dumplings, check out Way Fong frozen dumplings. read more

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Fun small dumplings! Highly recommended getting steamed and fried with the sauce. Quick and easy with plenty of seats read more

Marco & Luca - Fried Pork Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Absolutely incredible dumplings. Probably some of the best I've ever had. Love both of their locations. The people are kind and the food is exceptional. If you want good dumplings, I would totally recommend you go here. read more

Marco & Luca - Fried Pork Dumplings (10) - Portion & a half - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The service is always very fast. The dumplings are always amazing. Very cheap and great quality!!! Decent seating inside too!

The location and the small menus are perfect for an afternoon snack break. We ordered fried dumplings and bao. The dumplings came with a delicious teriyaki-like sauce, but the fillings were just okay. The bao also tasted only okay. Both dishes provided enough energy for us on a cold winter day while we explored the shops. read more

Marco & Luca - The fried dumpling - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Very nice place to have a nice Chinese dumplings .. keep this fair price ... Soup wonton a tiny bit too sour read more

Marco & Luca - Chicken curry combo and fried dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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My husband and I popped into Marco & Luca when we went a on weekend trip to Charlottesville. Their menu is pretty simplistic, with only dumplings, cold noodles, buns, and chicken curry. I was excited to see they had a combo that had a little bit of everything (minus the cold noodles) plus a drink. I thought all of this for $13 was a reasonable price. The chicken curry was good, but dumplings and bun were the stars of the meal for me. These were some of the best dumplings I've had and the bun was soft and warm without being dry. I think if I were to go again, I would get a larger order of dumplings and a bun. read more

Marco & Luca - Chicken Curry Combo - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I come here multiple times a week. Everyone is excellent and very friendly. Food is so amazing. Can never go wrong with dumplings. Ambiance is incredible. Well worth the trip no matter how far. Highly recommend. Thank you guys. read more

Tasty dumplings and incredibly nice service! We had a friend visiting from out of town, and they enjoyed the food and the fun set up in the Seminole Square location. I have severe allergies and the kitchen could not have been nicer about making sure I could eat too. Always great to have an allergy-conscious local place! read more

Insanely good fried pork dumplings. Those + sesame noodles made a great, cheap, quick lunch.

Wow! Some of the best dumplings I've ever had. The pork dumplings with ginger and leeks is perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. They are smaller than typical dumplings, but taste better than most. The price is also reasonable - seven dumplings for $5.75; can't beat that price! The staff members are nice and quick to serve. The atmosphere is casual and clean. read more

Marco & Luca - Fried Pork DumplingsDumplings - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Amazing dumplings. The chicken combo (with curry) was delicious! The Team very nice. Enjoy this great food read more

Came here dinner and grabbed some dumplings and spicy cold noodles. This is a great place if you're walking and need to stop by for a quick snack. The prices are amazing $5.25 for dumplings and $5.25 for the noodles can't really beat it. The portion size is great, definitely will fill you up. Taste wise, it's pretty decent. Overall, there was no wait, it was quick and easy, the prices were great, the portion size was good, and it taste pretty decent. read more

Marco & Luca - Dumplings and cold spicy noodles - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This is a staple for fried dumplings for the Cville downtown Mall area. They have other great items on the menu as well. But today I just wanted fried pork dumplings! Cooked to order, hot, fresh and tasty! Great and friendly service. read more

Marco & Luca - Fried Pork Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Stopped in for a quick bite while shopping on the downtown mall. We ordered the dumplings and the hot pork bun. The dumplings were AMAZING, the filling was flavorful without being too overpowering and not oily at all. The pork bun had good flavor - I just wish it had a tad more filling. The sauces that came with both were so good I could drink them. The prices were low and it was the perfect mid-day snack. I'd recommend if you are in the area! read more

Marco & Luca - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We on a whim stopped in to try some dumplings while visiting Charlottesville for a recent bach trip. These dumplings were so good! Also reasonably priced. Definitely stop in and try the pork dumplings if you get a chance! read more

Marco & Luca - veggie dumplings (bigger ones on left), pork dumplings, and bao buns - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Horrible the dumplings were bad and sesame noodles. Service was okay but ambiance was weird too.

The dumplings are really good here, and they are probably my favorite in the area! The restaurant is super small, and there is probably only enough seating for a max of 20 people, and the seating is pretty squished together. But for me this is fine because I consider it more of a pickup place anyways. I am not sure if the prices are the best considering the dumplings are pretty small (they are about half the size of normal dumplings). However, I feel like they make up for it because the dumplings are very tasty.The sauce is super sweet, but it goes well with the dumplings, which are fried nicely and have good flavor. I also like how the service is pretty fast, and they get out the food quickly. This is definitely a place I recommend going to if you are looking for good dumplings! read more

Best dumplings I've ever had. I used to visit regularly at the Virginia tech location when I was in school and fell in love with this place. I was delighted to find there was a location in Charlottesville on a recent visit. This location was exactly like the Blacksburg spot. I was so excited to be back. Their hot and sour still remains to be my favorite hot and sour. Their sesame cold noodles are amazing. And their dumplings are still divine. I just wish they had a Northern VA location as it's so affordable and delicious. I highly recommend visiting for a cheap but amazing lunch. read more

Marco & Luca - Hot and sour soup, dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Shoddy dumplings. Truly bad, even with the sauce. Marco & Luca 100% buys these in bulk at an Asian supermarket, warms them up, and phones the rest in. This is gas station-level bad. Also, Sesame noodles here are just a bland, sloppy conduit for Thai peanut sauce. Even that is bad. read more

The setup of the restaurant is cute and quaint, definitely a solid food option in Downtown Charlottesville on the cheaper side (but still good taste!). The service is quick and effective and you get your food pretty much immediately once you order it. read more

Marco & Luca - Dining Area - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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If you think you've had great fried dumplings, then you haven't tried Marco & Luca's god-tiered fried dumplings with their amazing soy sauce. We ordered 4 dumplings and two hot and sour soups. It's about 4 dollars for 6 dumplings fried right there. They are crispy, fried to perfection. The sauce is so amazing as well; I cannot pinpoint what makes it so special but the sauce is definitely more than your average soy sauce. Their hot and sour soup is to die for. I never really liked hot and sour soup before but their soup is addicting. Their staff are very friendly; one of the workers even offered to take our food bags to the place we were sitting at. This local shop is nearly decorated; you can definitely tell that this is a comfortable and passionate place. read more

Marco & Luca - Fried Dumplings (6 Pieces) - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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So great to see a small business that started on the downtown mall grow to be an amazing mom and pop in the Charlottesville food area! If you know, you know, the service is amazing. The food is incredible. Limited but perfect. Great for a Saturday afternoon or Tuesday lunch and if you're lucky, you were able to have enjoyed them after an evening of ice-skating on the downtown mall, which no longer exist. But what still exist the high-quality of the product and the wonderful service read more

Looks like prices went up $1 but I understand why with things being the way they are. The pork bun was the star of the show and worth the four stars alone. The sesame noodles are always good. I love the peanut flavor. The spicy and sweet noodles have fresh slices of apple and cilantro. The dumplings are good. I just wish they were a little hotter. I can. Tell they are reheating frozen ones. I like how they give a lot of sauce. I could put that on everything. read more

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I wanted to like it, but felt is missed the mark. I came in for a quick lunch of two pork buns. The spot is easy to find on the mall, with a few seats outside as well as indoor seating. The staff was friendly and helpful. I placed my order and waited for the buns to be steamed. The buns came out well, steamed perfectly. The pork filing was okay, not the sweet char siu flavors. What I don't care for was the sauce they poured on top, which was salty and overpowered the buns. Maybe asking for without would have been better. read more

Marco & Luca - Pork buns - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This little place offers the best Chinese street eats- potstickers, cold noodles, and steamed buns at an affordable price. I think it errs more on the fusion side but they made it work. We got both veggie and pork buns. Both pack flavor. I think the sauce drizzle is a bit overpowering as it reminds me of a vinegary Peking duck sauce. Next time I would ask for it on the side! The potstickers are drizzled in the same sauce- super crispy but they taste delicious even without sauce drizzled in it. Lastly, the sesame noodles were pretty good and fresh! At first glance it doesn't look like there is sauce, but when you eat it you can tell it's evenly distributed and has a delicious peanut sauce flavor. When we went it seemed understaffed so you may have to wait around 10-15 minutes or so before the food is ready. We also ate outdoor on the patio so that option was super nice. read more

Marco & Luca - Veggie Hot Bun, Pork Hot Bun, dumplings, sesame noodles - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I don't live in Virginia, but every time we come to town to visit my girlfriends family, getting my dumpling fix at Marco & Luca is top of my list! These dumplings and the accompanying proprietary soy sauce are to die for, they are so good that I dream about them back home in Denver and wonder why they haven't yet started packaging these up and selling them in supermarkets across the country! My go-to is a double order of dumplings (sauce on the side for dipping), and an pork bun. YUM! read more

Marco & Luca - Dumplings! - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Oh, how I crave the dumplings and sesame noodles from Marco and Luna! Any time of year, whether warm or cold outside, that are so tasty! The menu isn't big but doesn't need to be since you'll see why, once you go. They have two locations, one in the downtown mall and the other off of Rt 29. Both locations have nicely decorated dining areas and you can sit outside under the trees in the downtown mall location. You order at the counter and then wait for your order to be called. I find the Rt 29 employees to be more welcoming but boy, do they know how to make an amazing dumpling with house sauce underneath. The sesame noodles are smothered in peanut sauce and sliced cucumbers, such a tasty combo! read more

Marco & Luca - Sesame noodles and dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great fried dumplings in cville. The noodles were also very delicious with a satay sauce and some cucumbers which made it very refreshing. read more

Marco & Luca - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We were walking around downtown and needed some food and we ran into this place. AMAZING. There was one employee cooking and taking orders. The food is made with love. We had the veggie dumplings, pork dumplings, veggie bun and pork bun. Everything was so fresh and hot! Food came out quickly. It's a very small place but everyone is eating and moving so quickly, you should have some room to sit and enjoy your food. And it's inexpensive!!! We got all that for $17 read more

Marco & Luca - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Came here to eat dumplings with a friend on Lunar New Year. The dumplings and the sauce are so good fresh. I recommend ordering and eating them fresh and hot. The dumplings get stale if they are left out too long. I think that it may have to do with the oil that the dumplings are fried in being reused. The Sesame Noodles with the light peanut sauce were prepared well. The cucumbers were fresh, and the dish is a nice and simple compliment to an order of fried dumplings. The Sweet & Sour Spicy Noodles were also good, but not amazing-- a nice different side option to pair with their star dumplings. read more

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I love this place. The best dumplings anywhere, however, I was forced to listen to christian music while I ate. Why? If you want to impose your religious beliefs on people that's your business, but if I come in again and they are playing this music, I'll never be back. read more

Dumplings... simple and perfect. Every time our family is in C'ville, we make sure that we come and get the dumplings here... The inside sitting area is tiny so you will want to come at off hours. But even then, you'll find a bunch of people inside and waiting for take out... always! The most amazing part of the dumplings is the sauce! Absolutely the best sauce for dumplings. The crisp fried skin and the consistent taste and flavor of the inner meat, noodles and vegetables... If you haven't tried it... then you haven't truly lived... haha just kidding... but no... really! read more

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This fried dumpling place in Charlottesville is well-known even at VCU in Richmond. They have very few items on their menu, but their most known for their pork, leek, and ginger fried dumplings with Marco Luca soy sauce and hot sauce. The dumplings are crispy, moist, and delicious. The dumplings are bite-size, so I wish they were bigger. For 6 dumplings, it costs $4. I also tried the cold sesame noodles with cucumbers. It was good and refreshing, but the peanut sauce at the bottom can get overpowering. I usually order some dumplings to-go to eat for dinner or bring back home for friends. The dumplings are still good after awhile, just ask for the sauce to be on the side! However, I wish they gave you more to-go sauce. If you ask for sauce on the side, it only comes in a small plastic container. Otherwise, they would drizzle more soy sauce and hot sauce on top. It's just preference because I don't want my dumplings to get soggy after sitting in sauce for awhile. read more

Marco & Luca - Pork, Leek, and Ginger Fried Dumplings with Marco Luca Soy Sauce and Hot Sauce - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Good cheap eats on the go! Fried dumplings on the small/medium size. Only $4.50 for an order of six. read more

Marco & Luca - Pork dumpling - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Marco & Luca has been on my bucket list for years, so I was super excited to finally get to try it on a visit to Charlottesville! Unfortunately, the first time I tried in August it was closed, but we soon found out it's been a bit tricky with COVID trying to figure out hours. My friends and I happened to get there as soon as it opened, and we actually got to meet the owner! She was very nice and kept apologizing for the wait. We weren't in a hurry and understood since it was only her managing everything! The dumplings were life-changing! I absolutely loved the sauce it came in and the inside of the dumpling had so much flavor. We also got the sesame noodles that I loved so much! I can't wait for another visit! read more

Marco & Luca - Sauce on the side since we took it to go! - Chinese Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This place is always a place we stop at when driving through! The food is delicious, service is quick! You can sit inside to eat or out on the patio! read more

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I love the concept of this little restaurant! The simplicity of the menu is what makes Marco & Luca stand out. I decided to order everything across the menu. A little bit of everything. The price point was perfect for all of the food. The dumplings were well fried and fun to eat. The sauce was boss! The Bao bun was good but could've had more filling to balance out the breading. The cold noodles were amazing! Didn't know it could be that good. The M.V.P. had to be the egg crepe dish. That was fun to eat. It was bigger in person than in pictures. It reminded me of a 2 large burritos. It was plenty of food for two. The customer service was fantastic, especially during a busy lunch. There are plenty of tables outdoor and space inside for dining. There also a great story and history behind the restaurant. That always makes the food that much better! read more

I love Marco and Luca! I love how casual it is, and I love the price points. My husband and I will go there if we're downtown to see a movie at the Violet Crown, because we know the wait won't be long so it will be easy to grab our dinner without being late to the show. We usually get a sampling of menu items to share: a few steamed buns, an order of dumplings, maybe some soup, and a curry entree or something. My favorite are the steamed buns. They're so good and simple and filling! Marco and Luca is also a good stop if you're between meals and don't necessarily want to sit down anywhere and have a whole meal out, but you need something to hold you over before you can get home and make food for yourself. You can definitely get a satisfying meal for a satisfyingly little amount of money, and there's something about the vibe of the place that is just classic. A Charlottesville staple. read more