Despite being a HUGE fan of Yuanbao Jiaozi, I'd be lying if I said I ever felt super motivated to…read moremake the drive out to this location. Given how much closer their SF location is to me, it always felt a little unnecessary to head all of the way out here to get the exact same thing. However, after learning that the menu here actually has a lot more to offer, I had heard all I needed for my curiosity to be piqued!
Compared to their original outpost, this Yuanbao Jiaozi is significantly larger in size, offering well over twice the amount of seating. Similarly, I got pretty excited when I saw just how much more the menu has to offer. In addition to the same assortment of appetizers, noodle dishes, and dumplings you'll find in SF, this one has several additional types of appetizers, dumplings, and noodle dishes, as well as a selection of dumplings in chili oil, potstickers, and several varieties of xiao long bao. What's more, they also have a Sea Urchin and Pork Dumpling, which is definitely something you don't see all that often!
-- NAPA CABBAGE & PORK POTSTICKERS...$15.99
Sadly, not quite as good as I had hoped for, but still solid. While I liked the overall taste and how the skins had a nice thickness to them, I wish that some of them had a firmer bottom/crust. Plus, I didn't love seeing all of the excess left on the dish.
-- PICKLED CHINESE CABBAGE BEEF NOODLE SOUP...$15.99
Plus points for being able to get this without cilantro, but, admittedly, this didn't look right without it. In any case, this tasted pretty solid, even if others we've had were better. The broth wasn't very bold, but the noodles had a nice bite and the beef was super tender.
-- DAN DAN NOODLES...$12.99
Not as good as my newfound favorite, but this is up there. Similarly, the noodles in this had a nice chew and I liked how they didn't skimp on the meat. However, the sauce had a slightly nutty aftertaste that was distracting - either make it stronger or not have it at all.
-- UNI & PORK DUMPLINGS...$7.99
Really interesting, to say the least. The filling had a bit of a briny sort of flavor to it that complemented the pork filling well. That said, it did feel a little gimmicky and certainly a little pricey for what you get.
-- BRAISED SPARERIBS NOODLE SOUP...$15.99
This was kind of simple, but still pretty good! Although there weren't many pieces of it, I thought the spareribs were porky and tender, the broth was flavorful, and the noodles in this dish were just as good as the others.
-- HOUSE SPECIAL BEEF NOODLE SOUP (SPICY)...$15.99
Of the two beef noodle soups, I liked this one slightly more. The slices and chunks of beef were just as tender and the noodles had the same bit of bite to them. As for the broth, it still could've used more body, but it wasn't overwhelmed by the pickled vegetables.
-- PORK XIAO LONG BAO...$12.99
These were great! Although there wasn't as much soup inside each piece as I would've liked, the filling was still fairly porky. The skins, though, were fantastic - soft, tender, and on the thin side, but not so thin that they tore apart when liefted.
Along with the food, the other thing I like about this Yuanbao Jiaozi is just how convenient it is. Parking is always a breeze, we've never had to wait for a table (for dinner, anyways), our order has always come out fairly quickly, and the workers have always been really friendly.
Even though I haven't found the food to be quite as amazing as that first time I tried the Yuanbao Jiaozi on Irving in SF, our visits to this location have never disappointed. While I still need to check out some of the other noodle joints that have opened up recently in Burlingame, Millbrae, and San Mateo, that doesn't mean I won't be coming back here for more quick and tasty meals. Not when I now have another spot to get some tasty beef noodle soup, dan dan noodles, and dumplings!
FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.