Incredible food and service! The cat's out of the bag! The kind couple that served us were taking care of too many tables yet still managed to provide incredible service and a clean place to dine. As someone who is Chinese and grew up eating great authentic food, this place is absolutely incredible! The dumplings are outstanding - we got the pork, shrimp, chive and the chicken & corn. Our favorite was shockingly the corn and chicken. We also tried the green onion pancakes, bean curd salad, cucumber, and beef noodle soup. All outstanding. I only wish their frozen dumplings would have made it back to us in DC. There is a small parking lot. About 5-7 tables which makes this place fill up quickly for dinner. Recommend showing up early and being very patient! read more

Came here to say early right at 11 am for lunch. Be aware the inside is very small so limited sitting is available. I wish it was a few of us so we could try multiple dishes. I really enjoyed the two items I ordered. There was a group of 3 ladies next to me and they ordered a few dishes and they were loving every single one of them. I like restaurant with small menus. I feel they do better job with flavors versus a huge menu. I would come back for sure read more

Meet Dumpling - Pork dumpling (sorry can't remember which one) - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I first discovered this place on Yelp's list of top 100 Chinese restaurants and was a little skeptical and I was first walked in because: the menu was all in English, and they charge for tea (which is complimentary at every other Chinese restaurant I've ever been to). However, I'm glad to say that the food was very good. We ordered dumplings, zha jiang noodles (not pictured), and rougamo (like a pork burger). While the dumplings and noodles were good, loved the rougamo. The outside was crispy and the inside was flavorful. In addition, the service was good and the inside was clean. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and I hope to be back soon. Note: They also sell frozen dumplings to take home if you are interested. It is the same price at the menu for 18 dumplings. read more

Meet Dumpling - Sweet corn with chicken dumplings - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came here on a Sunday afternoon and were lucky to be seated immediately, because by 1 PM, there was a small line forming. Parking is also limited. This is a small mom and pop shop with a modern and comfortable interior and had about 7 tables. They serve authentic Chinese cuisine like cold dish appetizers and handmade dumplings to order. Since they are made to order, there was a little bit of a wait time, but worth it. The crispy onion pancake is different from the one I'm used to (opaque, chewy layers with crispy outsides). Theirs seems to be completely fried and reminded me of the crispy bread used in Roujiamo, which makes sense as it is also one of their dishes. It was unique and amazing. I made my dipping sauce with the chili oil, soy sauce, and sweet vinegar, a delicious combination. At first I thought the skin of the dumpling looked very thick based on the color, but it was actually not at all. It was soft, fell apart easily in the mouth, and not heavy at all. The texture was like broad rice noodles. I enjoyed my meal here and I hope you give this place a try too. read more

Meet Dumpling - Super crispy onion pancake - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Easily top 3 Chinese food I've ever had. And I've actually been to China Services was great! They were super helpful in helping us use the sauces properly, order a good combination of menu items that complement each other and work around allergies. Also, we were able to have good conversation with the owner and his daughter, great people! PS. They use soy bean oil instead of peanut oil PSPS: Their is not good for soy allergy The place itself is small very minimal but also very clean! There's only 5 or 6 tables. Pro tip: go early and avoid the crowd. Even if you have to wait, the food is so worth it. Beef noodle soup was sooo good, the dumplings tasted soooo fresh, that green onion pancake was insanely light, crunchy & flavorful. Also, the cucumber mushroom salad has an incredible spicy, savory dressing that blew my mind. Go, take a couple friends, order a bunch of things and share it family style. It'll be worth it! read more

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This place lives up to the hype! Amazing dumplings and incredible beef noodle soup! Love that it's family run. Service is excellent and attentive. read more

Meet Dumpling - Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

I visited this restaurant with my family on July 5th at around 12:30 p.m. after watching YouTuber Gareth Leonard recommend it. We drove down from Los Angeles excited to give it a try. When we walked in, the restaurant was full, and my wife and I commented that it must be very good. A Chinese waiter told us, "No table." I responded, "Okay, how long is the wait?" Instead of answering the question, he replied very rudely, "Close the door, A/C is on." I understand the importance of keeping the door closed to maintain the air conditioning, but there are courteous ways to communicate that to customers. A simple "Please close the door, and the wait will be about ___ minutes" would have been much more respectful. The food may be excellent, but our first impression was overshadowed by the rude service we received. Unfortunately, because of this interaction, we chose to leave and dine elsewhere. We never come back to this place. read more

We lived in Shenyang Northern China, and always look for dumplings everywhere we go! When we visited San Diego I had to go to meet dumplings and yes it's like sitting in China eating dumplings. It's unbeatable, forget about Din Tai Fung and come to this place it's legit, cheaper, better, amazing hole in the wall! Must visit. If you live here it's even better they sell the dumplings you can take them home frozen and cook them. read more

Excellent and authentic dumplings! Friendly staff as well. Definitely coming back. Reasonable priced also read more

Meet Dumpling - Dumplings and pig ear cold dish - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Got the tofu dumplings, the filling was nice and flavorful, cooked tofu with green onions. Good portion sizes too, and service was friendly. read more

Meet Dumpling - Tofu dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came in an hour before close, but the restaurant was still packed. Dumplings made to order and still arrives pretty timely. Beef noodle soups was good but not great. Green onion pancake was very innovative and different, I'd order again. Quick service, clean restaurant, and good food. Meet Dumpling is a decent restaurant but still prefer my spots in Convoy. read more

Meet Dumpling - Beef Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have eaten here for to go and today another to go order. My favorite is pork and cabbage dumplings. Still a banger!

After four or five visits this, it's about time I add my opinion: if you like dumplings, go there. It's a small place, and busy, so you may have to go on the waiting list, or be OK with ordering to go. We've had the pancakes, and every kind of dumpling they sell. If you like dumplings, you'll find something there to eat. Yes, there are dumpling shops in the Convoy area for sure, but this one can hold its own against them, and it is very convenient if you're near Point Loma. read more

This place has a small amount of seating so don't do what I did and arrive 45 minutes before closing. I came here after watching it on youtube, I think it was Gareth Eats. There is a lot of customization so you can choose from vegetables you know like corn to more traditional options like cabbage or scallions. My favorite has to be their soup because it's like getting a bowl of meat with free soup. The people working there I think is a family, so they're nice, but they're very busy because all the dumplings are made after you order them. You don't want to miss coming here. read more

This is my secret dumpling spot. I am sharing it not for you, but for the benefit of the business. Dumplings here are boiled. You get a generous portion of 14 dumplings, a jar of chili oil, sambal, soy and vinegar. Mix your dipping sauce according to your personal preference. It is a wonderful comfort food! The service is attentive, the dude who funds the shop is quick to identify what it is that you may be in need of before you can ask. This place is a low key gem. read more

Meet Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

I went with Meet Dumpling with my wife on our trip to Old Town, San Diego before getting ready to fly back to Atlanta. The shop itself is modest in size, best for a max party of four. There is a single table that can accomodate a larger group. Tables and chairs are simple but functional. But the food is stupendous. We ended up splitting a cucumber and wood ear salad, a green onion pancake, and a beef noodle soup. The cucumber was nice and crisp, the wood ear was firm and the sweet, spicy dressing was an excellent accompaniment. The green onion pancake was a standout, perfectly fried. Though it's a bit sacrilegious, the leftover sauce from the salad made for a perfect dip to the pancake. The beef noodle soup was traditional and great. The marinated beef made me feel right at home and the noodles tasted homemade. They had the perfect amount of chew. If we weren't flying out, I would have definitely got a zha jiang mian as well because of how perfect noodles were from the beef noodle. We also got two orders of dumplings to go - a chicken and sweet corn and a pork with napa cabbage to go. Given the quality of everything else, I am going to devour them back in the hotel room. Just as a headsup, there was a 30-45 minute wait on the dumplings but we were told that upfront. The other items came out quickly. All in all, Meet Dumpling is exactly my kind of spot. If I'm nearby in San Diego, I am picking up the phone and putting in a pickup order for just dumplings. Or I am going in with a small party, enjoying all the other food while I wait for fresh dumplings. read more

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I saw this place featured on YouTube with tons of raving reviews so I had to try it. It's a tiny shop and super busy, so we ordered to go. About 9 tables. We got the chive pork shrimp dumplings and they were delicious. I loved the strong chive flavor, and the dumplings were fresh and super juicy. We also got the scallop pork shrimp dumplings. They were good too, but the scallop flavor was a little faint compared to the shrimp. I really wanted to try the beef noodle soup, but they said it would take about 40 minutes. Honestly I should've just ordered it, because our whole order ended up taking around an hour and a half anyway. Next time I'll definitely order online ahead of time and just wait to pick it up. read more

As we finish our leftover Beef Noodle Soup and Green Onioo Pancakes, I wanted to take a moment to review this excellent restaurant. We first discovered Meet Dumpling after watching a Gareth Eats video on YouTube. We arrived at 12:30 and only had to wait 10 minutes for a table. One of the guests leaving recommended Rougamo so we added this to our selection of aforementioned soup and pancakes plus Green Chive Shrimo & Pork Dumplings. Everything arrived hot, fresh and flavorful. The restaurant is small but very clean and friendly service. This is our new go-to when craving Chinese food. read more

Highly recommended! But here's the thing -- If you're the type of person who thinks you know what authentic Northern Chinese dumplings should taste like... then DON'T GO. It's probably not for you. Yes, I mean you. They're not making the salty, traditional Northern-style dumplings you might be expecting. But personally, I love it. It's one of the best dumpling places I've had in the past 20 years in America. For context, I'm from Northern China -- the dumpling city, Tianjin. The dumplings they make are incredibly rich and flavorful. Fresh meat, cooked to order -- never frozen. So good! The owner is amazing. It truly has that homemade taste. 非常浓郁！ 新鲜的肉！ 现做的！ 没冷冻！ 呗棒！ 老板 呗棒！ 有家的味道！ read more

The celery and salad was so refreshing, it was different but in a good way! The green onion pancake was out of this crunchy, savory flakey not oily at all I think about these all the time The crunch alone was music to my some ASMR gold! The green chive and dumplings were amazing bouncy and flavorful but not too much where you don't need the chili oil, soy sauce and vinegar mixture to make it shine through even more! The prices were more than fair as well.. 14 dumplings for each order from $11-$15 (depending on the dumpling chosen) Next time we are definitely trying the beef noodle soup and the pig ear salad ! read more

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We were so excited to stumble upon this place when looking for takeout! We knew it was going to be delicious when we saw 4.9 stars and that their restaurant only held about 5 tables in total. If you dine in probably expect a wait if they are busy! The place was quaint and cutely decorated. My favorite was their green onion pancake! read more

Meet Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Hidden gem of delicious dumplings. Order extra for the table and ask how to make the dipping sauce!

Noticed the certificate on the wall saying it was one of the 100 best Chinese restaurants in the US. After sitting down for a meal here I can say for myself it was as tasty and authentic as I have had in recent memory. The Zha jiang mian was awesome, scallion pancake was crispy and tasty, the chive pocket was definitely memorable, and the dumplings were great, what was most striking was that as we asked for to go containers the owner mixed some sauce for us to take home. Adding some vinegar and soy to the fermented chili sauce we used on our meal. That little touch really made us want to come back. read more

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I really didn't feel the need to gas this place up. It was a 1 hr wait (we pregamed at Harbor Town Pub), they have all the people waiting that they can handle, and yet it was so freaking good. They were slammed, and to help move things along, they only take one round of ordering at a time. The staff are very friendly, despite being busy make sure they come around to refill water at all times, check on us and take away plates. Food came out at reasonable times considering how busy they are. Our male server was so warm and welcoming. The menu isn't the largest and I think it's helped them to really make excellent products. We got their green onion pancakes (unbelievably crunchy), rougamo (meaty Sando with that same crunchy pastry dough), cucumber mushroom salad is always refreshing, beef noodle soup (meat was tender, soup flavorful and noodles are lovely chewy), 3 types of dumplings: shrimp and pork, chicken and mushroom and a dark horse of beef and green bell pepper. All of them so good, so addictive, mixed with that hot sauce which is so amazingly good. This place is pretty stupid good and I hate it. read more

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Service is poor. The host unnecessarily vents on the customers. I wonder if the customers come here to get a lesson?

Sweet little family owned dumpling joint - extremely authentic, great service, generous portion sizes Favorite restaurant in San Diego by far! Mom and I ordered the cucumber and wood ear mushroom, chive and shrimp and pork dumplings (14 pcs!!!!!), chive pockets, and wonton soup - truly underestimated the portion sizes. Definitely left a couple pounds heavier than when we walked in read more

My sister took me and my daughter to this place and it did not disappoint. Growing up in the SGV, any dumpling place will have some competition, but this one definitely hit the spot. They do close early and it's a small place so make sure you squeeze in an opportunity to check it out. The potato salad was something I had never tried before and it was very good and flavorful. It was shredded potatoes in a sauce that tasted like it maybe had peppercorn in it. It was different nit great. The cucumber salad was also so tasty. I love how they have 2 veggie dumpling options and another one with seafood without meat. The onion pancake was nice and crispy and didn't taste greasy. Everyone enjoyed the food. Take a look at the photos to see what we tried. read more

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The food is good but not outstanding. The wontons have good texture and flavor. I tried the beef noodle as well, the broth was kinda diluted. It was a busy weekend, about 30min wait. There was only one person taking orders and serving. There is a cute girl assisting customers, must be the owner's daughter, Summer. She is very charming and helpful but they should hire another person to help. read more

Really good beef soup and house made dumplings I had the chicken and cabbage very good . We also had the beef and carrots I will not be getting those again reminded me of cat food not the taste but how it looked . read more

Great Odin's ladle, Meet Dumpling! I strolled into Meet Dumpling with a rumbling stomach and modest expectations... and I left a changed man. A better man. Possibly a man who now believes in destiny. These dumplings were juicy, plump, and generously filled--the kind of dumplings that look you square in the eye and say, "We don't cut corners here." Each bite was a glorious explosion of flavor, like a well-tailored suit made entirely of deliciousness. The wrappers? Perfectly tender. The filling? Packed tighter than the Channel 4 news team in a phone booth. I'm not exaggerating when I say these dumplings could bring peace to warring nations. I laughed. I smiled. I contemplated ordering another round "for research purposes." Meet Dumpling, you've earned my respect, my admiration, and frankly... my appetite. I'm Ron Burgundy? No. But I am someone who will absolutely be back. read more

Good, simple, clean flavors. Small little place, but worth the wait. We got 3 orders of dumplings to go and ate them on the street in the way to Humphreys for a show. Perfect! read more

Stopped by this small dumpling spot during peak lunch hours and yes, it was busy, and yes, our online order took about 20 minutes longer than expected. But before you knock a star off for that, hear me out. This is clearly a smaller business operation, with about 7-8 tables when we visited, and a crew that's hustling hard. You can see the waitstaff doing their best, and in the back? A squad of Chinese aunties absolutely crushing it in the kitchen. You know you're in good hands. We got the pork, shrimp, and green chive dumplings, and wow, the filling was incredibly moist and flavorful, and the dough had a great chew. It was tender but with just the right bite. Every dumpling tasted like it was made with care and experience. This location serves quality food. In some cases, just be patient, support small businesses, and enjoy the delicious reward at the end. read more

Meet Dumpling - Green Chive with Shrimp & Pork Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is authentic hand made food. 14 dumplings sounds like a lot of food but we somehow managed to eat 2 orders of those, some scallion hand pies and the Chinese hamburger between 2 people. Everything was delicious. The sweet jasmine tea was flavorful and not too sweet. We were stuffed but kept eating. My favorite was the shrimp, scallops and pork dumplings, you can taste each ingredient in every bite. My husband favored the pork and Napa cabbage dumplings. Service was helpful and efficient. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Food is outstanding. I don't know which dish to rave about first tbh. Went there last night for supper , got the soup and onion pancakes. Delicious and so filling I thought I was gonna slip into a food comma. Great service , small restaurant and full busy parking lot. Prices are reasonable. Nice ambiance, friendly family place. I got my order to go. Would strongly recommend if you're in the mood for tasty dumplings. read more

I came here for my birthday with friends last year when they just opened. There were only about 5 tables for dining in. There is also a small window where you can see them make the dumplings by hand. When we arrived, a cute little girl, about 7 or 8 years old greeted us. She brought us the menus to look over. When our whole party was there, we started ordering. We got a bunch of dumplings, such as the green chive with shrimp and pork, sweet corn with chicken, carrot and beef, and some cold noodles as well. Everything was tasty and delicious! The dumplings weren't very pretty and all looked the same lol. The filling was very good though! You also get a lot of dumplings for the price- about 14 for only $12. The little girl kept wanting to play hand games with me and even gave me some gum as my dessert since she found out it was my bday. Overall, I had a great time here! read more

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From dumplings to noodles, this place does it all to perfection. And their ma la appetizers are also amazing! Cucumber salad, pig ears, shrimp dumplings, vegetable dumplings, wonton soup, and Beijing noodles. All of them are cooked to perfection and taste super authentic. Been coming back a bunch of times! read more

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The restaurant is mom and pop owned and they are very nice. The restaurant itself is super small and maybe fits less than 20 people. We were a party of two and ordered 3 items. We were sat behind another party of 2 like 5 minutes after and they ordered 3 things as well, but before we were able to get our one plate of food they already had their food, check and left. We waited almost 30 minutes for our food to come out lukewarm, a clear indicator that we were forgotten. The dumplings itself were ok, we had the chive pork and shrimp and it was very mediocre. The appetizer we got was served very last and it was the rougama and it was cold and over salted. I think tik tok hyped up this establishment way too much and i give it. 6/10 overall. read more

Oh, how the mighty have fallen--or rather, how the humble have ascended into something unrecognizable. I've pondered this all night, long after we stumbled out of our beloved dumpling sanctuary. What began as a love affair with a quaint spot has morphed into a bewildering cautionary tale. A few years ago, Meet Dumpling opened in our quiet neighborhood. Tucked on a side street, far from glitzy chains, this dumpling house was a gem found through word-of-mouth. Its facade was unassuming--a tiny shop with fogged windows steaming from boiling pots. We stumbled upon it one rainy evening, drawn by handmade wrappers promising comfort. That first visit was magic. The cozy interior, with four wooden tables squeezed into a space like a living room, felt like someone's home. Family photos adorned the walls. The dumplings were revelations--plump, steamed to perfection, with fillings bursting with flavor. The zucchini and shrimp were instant favorites, wrapped in near-translucent dough. We paired them with scallion pancakes and a chili-soy sauce mixed at the table. Portions were generous, prices low, every bite screaming "made with love." We returned three nights in a row that first week. The owners' daughter, a shy pre-teen, served us with endearing eyes. After dinner, the chefs emerged from the tiny kitchen, wiping hands on aprons, thanking us with huge smiles. We'd applaud, often the only table inside. It was charming, intimate, restoring faith in small businesses. Over two years, it became our ritual. The menu was a single, unpretentious page: a few dumpling varieties, salads, and appetizers. No frills--just soul-warming fare. Tonight, we went for my best friend's birthday, expecting our old faithful. But something felt off. The family photos were gone. The daughter was absent; the owner, now in a uniform, took orders with clipped efficiency. The menu, once a humble sheet, was now a glossy, two-page behemoth, categorized like a corporate catalog. Sections for "Vegan Alternatives" and add-ons like pig ear salad overwhelmed us. We ordered $150 worth for six: old favorites and new dumpling combinations. The food arrived in waves, but the magic was gone. The dumplings looked familiar, but the taste was off. Salads, once balanced, now carried bitterness. Spice levels were inconsistent, aggressive. The flavors that once danced now clashed, leaving us exchanging uneasy glances. Midway through, the owner--once kind but mute--told the birthday boy, "After this order, your table is cut off," sliding the check over. We blinked in confusion. After paying, he ushered us out like unruly teens. No thank-yous, just a cold eviction after dropping a fortune. On the sidewalk, processing the whiplash, it hit us: this wasn't a bad night. This was devolution into something dystopian. The charm was stripped, replaced by mechanized efficiency prioritizing turnover instead of connection. The bloated menu symbolized chasing trends at the expense of soul. The owner's hostility betrayed early supporters like us, who championed them when unknown. Is this the fate of American restaurants? They sprout from passion, drawing loyalists with heart. But as popularity swells--perhaps via Yelp raves--owners outgrow their roots. Fame and money turn warmth into wariness, hospitality into hostility. Authenticity erodes under expansion: bigger menus, pricier items, rushed service. It's like watching a mom-and-pop shop become a soulless franchise, patrons reduced to transactions. We've pondered this deeply tonight, our history spoiled. Two years of memories--three-night binges, family interactions--tainted by this shift. We'll likely never return; the spell is broken. If you seek dumplings with heart, they're no longer here. read more

Mom and pop shop Single family ran Dumplings Tufo dumplings Veggie dumpling Meat dumplings Vegan friendly Small inside about 6 tables Not ideal for big parties Sells to go Sells frozen Restroom outside ask for key Small parking lot Nice people Pancakes were bomb Teas and milk teas sold read more

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Small restaurant with about six tables and an open window to view dumpling preparations in the kitchen (kind of like DTF). Affordable price with generous servings. The food was delicious, and the service was attentive and kind. They gave recommendations as we ate (e.g., dipping one dish into another's sauce), and I even saw them assist in tossing dishes tableside for proper consumption. * Cucumber and wood ear mushroom salad: Absolutely delicious! Nice and crunchy, refreshing and slightly spicy. * Bean curd strips salad: Good but too spicy for my liking. It'll numb your tongue but you'll keep finding yourself wanting more. * Beef noodle soup: A lot of noodles. Good but I've had better. * Mushroom with chicken dumplings: 14 pcs to an order for only $12? Um, yes, please. They're steamed, and the filling was nice and juicy. Build your own dipping sauce with what's provided on the table. I'll have to come back to try other items. read more

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