I LOVE this place. I took my grandparents here a few weeks ago and we ordered everything we order when at Din Tai Fung. The xiao long bao is melt-in-your-mouth with a warm broth, the stir fried beef noodle has the perfect flavor palette, stir-fried green beans the perfect side, and shrimp fried rice was a great addition to more savory meat or vegetable dishes. The food quality is astounding as there was truly no difference from its counterpart and, as a big bonus, was almost half the price. Side note, my grandparents were so impressed that they took many business cards and kept pushing that they wanted to come back next week. The service is quick and the servers are friendly and always open for a chat or recommendation. Coming in here, I didn't realize that this was a Southern China establishment, and it was a nice surprise when waiters spoke Cantonese to us as it made my grandparents feel a lot more comfortable. The ambiance too was phenomenal as everything, from the cleanliness to the restaurant layout, felt warm and welcoming. As a whole, the environment supplemented the food really well into making the perfect meal experience. This really is the perfect Din Tai Fung dupe and I 100% recommend coming and trying out what you have always wanted to order at DTF but felt was too expensive. read more

Of everything that we got from here, they were all pretty solid, but I cannot speak to what about this spot in particular is better than others. I felt that the portions of meat in the beef roll was below average, while the xiao long bao lacked distinct notes or specialities. While this spot might be just around standard, i don't think that any sort of waitlist would be justified to come eat here as there are much better alternatives in this area. read more

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I enjoyed my first visit here. I didn't have to wait long to be seated at a table and time. You are required to order your food by scanning the QR code menu at the end of the table. Food was delivered in a timely manner. Staff were super attentive. My beverage was always refilled before being asked to and empty places were taken away almost instantly. The only thing I didn't favor was the seating configuration. But, the hat didn't impede my dining experience. Food was great; packed with flavor. read more

Wow. This place was really good. Every single dish we ordered. Parking was easy since it's in a plaza. Interior was clean and bustling. I came in with a party of 7 and they were able to accommodate a table for us. The wait was pretty long though so I recommend waitlisting asap. Service was really quick. The place was prettty small so that's prob why the wait is longer than most places. However it's so worth it. Pork chop fried rice 10/10: I'm actually not a fan of pork chop but they really caught me by surprise. The seasoning of the pork chop was so good and it didn't taste fatty. The pork chop was so good. It went sooo well with the rice. I would literally come back just for this. Egg white crab soup 7/10: not bad but it didn't stand out compared to the other dishes. The flavor was not as complex as I wish it was. Scallion pancake 7/10: also a pretty basic dish. It had a good crisp on the outside. Juicy pork dumplings 9/10: hard to go wrong with this one. It was hella juicy and on part with DTF Spicy pork dumpling 8/10: this one was also super flavorful but I think I like DTFs sauce better. But don't get me wrong it's still really good. String beans 8/10: really good dish that was not too salty which I appreciate since all the other dishes were pretty flavorful. It kinda served as a neutral palate cleanser Overall I would for sure come back. It's so good and I think I like it more than dtf especially since it's cheaper price wise too. read more

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Ordered: - Pork XLB (5/5): Meaty and juicy, though the skin breaks kind of easily if you're not careful about picking it up. Goes great with soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger. - Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wontons (5/5): My favorite dish here that I always order. The sauce is spicy with a sour undertone which carries it! - Pork Chop and Egg Fried Rice (4/5): The egg fried rice tastes amazing though it's a bit too oily for my liking. Love the portion though. Overall (5/5): Came here on a weekday night and there was no wait. Service was helpful and ordering was done on phone so it was really easy. Food was solid and priced fairly, which keeps us coming back! read more

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food 4/5 I ordered the fried rice cake, vegetable egg soup, scallion pancake, wonton soup and pork xiao long bao. Food was great, and overall delicious but nothing really stood out to me. I enjoyed the xiao long bao the most, was prefect for a rainy day. Service 5/5 Amazing service the manager frequently approached us and check on our order. Staff was quick and efficient, we didn't wait any longer than 5 mins for an order. ambiance 3/5 The location itself could be better, the space was very cramped and hard to get around. The vibe was good still, but i just wished for a bigger space. read more

Thumbling - Scallion Pancake, Pork Xiao Long Bao - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

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If you're in Covina and craving legit Chinese food this is the spot! Food is delicious and nostalgic for someone who grew up eating Chinese cuisine. The interior is bustling and filled with chatter of patrons, very casual. Service is abrupt but straight forward, as is usually standard in good Chinese restaurants. Highly recommend! read more

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Thumbling (West Covina) ALWAYS overflows with customers. It's sincerely delicious and affordable, but the long wait times always dissuade me from dining in. However, if you order To-Go, the process is very EASY and smooth. On a weekday, I ordered the Crab Roe & Pork Xiao Long Bao ($15 - 8 Pieces), Fish & Coriander Dumplings ($14 - 8 Pieces), Shanghai Shrimp and Pork Wonton ($15), and Crab Meat Egg White Soup ($15) on the phone for To-Go. The lady on the phone spoke fluent English, and she spoke with an upbeat and cheerful personality. My food was ready for pickup in 30 minutes. Concerning parking, it's not too bad. Parking is available but competitive. The location has many cars searching for spots since this plaza includes the popular 85 degrees bakery. When I'd arrived that Monday, there was already a HUGE line of people waiting for Dine-In. I just walked in to approach the counter. Staff requested my phone number for pickup, and Staff moved very efficient and business-like. Regarding the food, it was DIVINE. The flavors and textures were impeccable. I happily feasted. The dumplings, wontons, and xia long bao all had the springy, sought-for texture. And each piece was STUFFED with fresh ingredients. SO TASTY! And the Crab Meat soup overflowed with crab and hot liquid which left me satisfied and full. I felt so happy... Overall, Thumbling (West Covina) continues to be a must-try if in the area. The food is very authentic, affordable, and delicious. Personally, I'd only order for To-Go since the crowds are a bit intense, but Thumbling (West Covina) deserves all the love. 5 out of 5. If curious, just go. read more

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First time trying this and I we ordered to go. I selected the honey walnut shrimp and the brown sugar milk tea with boba. After seeing the pictures and comparing to what I got, i must say the drinks look like just milk with boba. Very disappointing and the honey walnut shrimp was good but nothing to rave about. My coworkers got many different dishes and they seemed to like their choices. I definitely will skip the drink n read more

Thumbling - Brown Sugar Milk with Boba (i guess this is just MILK TEA?) - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

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Visited 5/20/26 - Black Pepper Udon with Chicken 17 Typically eat this with beef but it was decent with chicken, for those being mindful abt red meat! Flavor is good, I honestly thought it was Hong Kong cafe level good. - Chicken XLBs 11 I would definitely opt to get this in pork only moving forward. I would say this was almost passing.. Skin was on the thicker side so no spillage! - Pan Friend Pork Dumplings 10 Not pictured but I always have to get this. I love that they add a dumpling skirt and the presentation was beautiful. Usually a dumpling purist, who only uses vinegar but it comes with a thick sweet sauce that was too good to pass up! - Cucumber Salad 7 Standard, I love that the plated it like DTF. On the more flavorful side, if my picky vegetables eaters are wondering. Would get again. You queue outside with their touchpad, no yelp waitlist. You also order with QR code. The staff were SUPER tentative about the water. I went on a monday so not busy but be careful on weekends for long queues! Didn't get boba this time but usually opt for the fruit teas! If you are in the IE and dont want to go all the way into SGV, thumbling is the go to! read more

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decent dumpling spot. beef noodle soup was pretty good, but not the best. dumplings in chili oil were good too but nothing too special. all in all, i wouldn't come back with so many options in the area. also very crowded and a weird ordering system on your phone read more

Thumbling - Braised Beef Noodle Soup - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

I was so surprised by how popular this restaurant is. We arrived at 5 PM on Sunday and there was already a wait. They only accept walk-ins so make sure to come early. There were four of us and we ordered an appetizer, pork soup, dumplings, crab soup, dumplings, spicy sesame noodles and a beef roll. Everything was delicious delicious and the service was warm and friendly. The restaurant isn't very big and crowded quickly, so arriving early is definitely a good idea. It's located in a plaza with plenty of parking, and the prices are very reasonable. I especially love the soup dumplings. The wrappers were incredibly thin and delicate definitely worth trying. read more

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I had an amazing experience at Thumbling in West Covina. The place is very clean, with a nice vibe, and the service was timely. Every dumpling I tried was flavorful.the spicy chicken wontons had a fantastic chili oil sauce, and the beef roll was a standout: crisp cucumbers, sweet hoisin sauce, and fresh cilantro. I loved the variety, from pan-fried to steamed options. My only downside was that the appetizers were a bit pricey,though the dumplings themselves were fairly reasonable. Still, a great spot I'd recommend,especially for large groups! read more

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Better than DTF and cheaper. I got 4 items: spicy wontons, beef roll, cucumbers, and the crispy pot stickers = $50 after taxes. And all of the items were good The spicy wontons isnt that spicy but had a lil kick to it and the sauce is good. The cucumbers is similar to the dtf one but just with thicker slices. Beef rolls meat could be more marinated but not bad. Crispy pot stickers were crisping. Definitely come early because theres always a long wait. read more

Thumbling - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

I came for brunch with my sister and it is already packed. Luckily we were able to get seated pretty quickly. There is a QR code that you can scan which will give you the digital menu which you can order off of right away without having to wait for the waiter. If you're not sure on what to order the menu tells you what is their popular dishes to help give you an idea of what's good. We order the marinated cucumber salad, Shanghai spicy shrimp and pork wontons, pan fried pork dumplings, pork xiao long bao, and the beef tenderloin udon with black pepper. My favorites were the Shanghai spicy shrimp and pork wontons and the beef tenderloin udon with black pepper. Both are considered spicy dishes but I have a weak spicy tolerance and I did not think that they were spicy at all! The pan fried dumpling skirt was crispy and instantly melts in your mouth. The xiao long baos have a small amount of soup within and the cucumber salad was so refreshing. The food comes out quick! The staff work quick to ensure you get all of your food fast. This place is one of my favorite spots to grab some dumplings. Highly recommend! read more

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Came here with my partner and overall it was just okay. I wouldn't call it great, mainly because the food didn't taste the way I expected, and unfortunately it's not somewhere I'd return to. I've visited twice now, and both times were disappointing. The biggest letdown was the pork chop with egg fried rice; the rice was completely unseasoned, which really ruined the dish for me. The udon was decent, but nothing memorable. The xiao long bao was also just okay, which was surprising since that's usually a standout at dumpling-focused spots. On a positive note, the staff were great, very friendly and helpful, and most spoke Cantonese, which I appreciated. Ordering is done through a QR code on your phone, which is convenient if you prefer minimal contact, though I personally still like having a server take our order. Overall, nice service but the food just didn't deliver for me. read more

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I cannot believe this was my first time trying Thumbling! This place is a West Covina staple and 9/10 has a large group of people outside waiting to get a table. I think that this is a pretty comparable restaurant to Din Tai Fung, just not as upscale. For service here, you order via a QR code on your table. However, the staff still comes around often to check in and grab drinks. The food here was hot and flavorful. We loved the beef roll, xiao long bao, green beans, and beef fried noodles. Now if they could only add the DTF chocolate xiao long boa to the menu... I would love them forever. read more

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It took a few attempts for my boyfriend and I to try Thumbling. The first time we came by it was so busy they had a long wait and we decided to go elsewhere. The second time, the estimated wait was reasonable enough for us to wait it out. We were seated at an extremely TIGHT counterspace where the depth of the ledge was really insufficient to enjoy a meal comfortable. The space inside the restaurant really seems like the squeezed in as many seats as they can, while compromising the comforts of the customers. It's one thing if other dumb customers keep bumping into me... but it's annoying when their staff keeps bumping into me cause the walkway is insufficiently tight. To order, you scan the QR code and self order. So not much service here either. We ordered a Pork Xiao Long Bao ($8/6 piece), Sauteed Spinach with Garlic ($14), and a Beef Tenderloin Udon with Black Pepper ($18). We probably could have eaten more but the space was not comfortable for me to enjoy. The udon noodles came out first, then the xiao long baos, then the spinach. The food tasted decently. The xiao long baos skin were thin and they were juicy and flavorful. The udon and spinach were average, just like any other business that offers these dishes. I feel like the reason why people love this place is the price. The food isn't anything mind blowing or special enough for me to put up with the crowd and cramped space. Definitely not worth waiting too long for. To each their own. I'll leave this place to others who align with what they're offering. read more

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I was really excited to try Thumbling since I kept hearing comparisons to Din Tai Fung, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype. I called shortly after opening and was quoted a 25-minute wait for takeout. The timing was accurate and my order was ready right when I arrived, which I appreciated. Tried the pork XLB ($8 for 6 pieces), HK Shrimp & Pork Wonton Noodle Soup ($15), Chicken Egg Fried Rice ($15), and Beef Fried Noodle ($17). Most of the soup inside the XLBs had already leaked out - though that's probably just the downside of getting them to-go. The bigger issue was that the fried rice and noodles were pretty bland and needed extra soy sauce and chili for flavor. The chili oil itself was purely oil, so I'm not sure what went wrong there while packaging. The service also felt a bit rushed. The gentleman assisting me quickly handed over my order and walked away without much interaction. Staff seems to speak limited English but can understand enough to get by. Thumbling is located in the same plaza as 85 Degrees and Dave's Hot Chicken. It's a large plaza, but parking can be tough during peak hours. I was surprised to see Thumbling almost completely full around noon on a weekday. Unfortunately, the food just didn't quite meet my expectations. read more

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Always amazing. Super quick once you figure out what you want. Everything is good on the menu. We go relatively regularly and haven't ever been disappointed! read more

I love Thumbling it's definitely one of THE spots in West Covina! Be prepared to wait closer to an hour if your party is large, and maybe 10-30 for smaller parties. There's plenty to walk around in the plaza (desserts, pastries, açaí bowls) while you're waiting and even a fountain. Once seated everything moves relatively fast. The menu is extensive, food comes out quickly and fresh, and workers are attentive even though you order through a tablet and it's super busy inside. Food is stellar and of value (6 XLB for $8!), portion sizes are good, and everything is piping hot! The soup dumplings have soo much soup IMO beating out Mama Lu's which is what I would consider to be their nearest competitor. The spicy shrimp wontons are also good, but I think the flavors don't quite hit as well - big pieces of shrimp are enclosed though! The Peppered Beef Udon was great the beef pieces were tender and juicy and great textured noodles. Onion pancakes are a staple along w/cucumber salad (not pictured) , and their pan fried pot stickers are my favorite along with the sauce it comes with. Sooo crispy. Pro tip: If you are a first timer/came from far and waited a while don't let them seat you at the bar the experience is not as nice by far (I saw someone say it's like paying to stare at a wall - I concur) Being seated at a booth or table will allow you the full experience but I do understand there's only a limited amount of room in the bustling place. read more

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My friends have raved about this place so I am glad that I was finally able to try it!! I came here when it opened at 11am on a Friday and was seated immediately, while party must be present before getting seated. We got a variety of items from the menu including the cucumber salad, pork soup dumplings, pork potstickers, beef rice rolls, and beef udon stir fry. Everything was super yummy and affordable!! Service was quick and friendly!! They even boxed up our leftovers! Parking lot is small and pretty busy. By the time we finished, there was already a line! read more

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New favorite dumpling spot. Go hungry cause, believe me, you're going to want to try everything! Quick service. Clean. Delicious food! I stuck to the chicken items since I have a shellfish allergy, my siblings ate the seafood ones. And we loved everything we tried. We're already planning another trip back. Til next time! read more

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006/2026/Jan My wonderful and delightful experience with my family for dinner was really awesome with their attentive service and appetizing dishes!! It was raining and the wait was from and hour or more ! For a party of 11 it was quiet a wait which we were on a waiting list # 17 !!! Grandkids were hungry believe it or not they all want different eats so we went to a bakery, a chicken and hot dog place to get them something to munch while waiting! Surprisingly Our turn came after an hour !! We were seated and started ordering online using QR code on the table !!! That's fast service which was really awesome! The Shanghai rice cake dish was my favorite!! The taste was just dancing with delight from the flavor in every bite ! Love the Masago fried rice which pops with tasteful with every spoonfull !! For dessert my daughter ordered the salted egg dumpling , and oh my that was a rich filling of the duck egg yolk with the flavor and texture !!! NOW! WHY 4 stars from this experience ??? We were getting ready to leave when i saw my granddaughter still finishing her food ! But there was a staff waiting for us to vacate the table ! I told the gentleman staff ,who was impatiently hovering at the end of our table , that she was just finishing her food and he responded and pointed to a group of customers that they have been waiting for 2 hours!!! I thought that was a rude comment cause we all waited for our turn ! That really was unacceptable!!! read more

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Thumbling is a great alternative to Din Tai Fung, and true local spot. I visited twice, once on a weekday night and a Saturday morning. Even on a weekday nignt there's a wait. If you go on weekend mornings before it opens, you can easily get a table. Food comes out pretty fast, and it's all delicious. You can find most of the Din Tai Fung classics here and more. My favorite are the pan fried dumpling baos. Overall, great restaurant. read more

Thumbling - Use this QR code to join the waitlist - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

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We were a party of 6, joined the waitlist on a Saturday at around 12:30, and we were seated in about 10 minutes! We ordered 7 items, it came out to ~$110. For a more modern Chinese dining experience, I think this place is pretty solid. The standout for me was the dried scallop fried rice; wonderfully seasoned and tasted very traditional! The pan fried buns were not very juicy, no complaints about the other items (XLB, garlic string beans, custard buns, pan fried dumplings). Our food came out very quickly! I think that the family style aspect struggles a bit due to a lack of table space/lazy Susan. My party was sat at the very back, near the kitchen, so it was almost unbearably hot. I think the area would have benefited from ceiling fans. Otherwise, if you enjoy traditional flavors in a modernized storefront, this place is a great contender! read more

Love this place. Their Pork Chop Fried rice, Spicy Wontons and XLB are amazing (if not better than DTF).

Everything tasted really good and enjoyed every bite of each of the items that I got. The popcorn chicken and beef roll were my favorites. read more

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YASSSSSS! We're here, oh yesss we're here the dream team is here. MIB servers rolled up on us upon entry. Order, service, food not lacking. How we gonna walk in on "no wait Wednesday. "Everrrrrythang we ordered was fi-ya. I love this place or I think it loves me. I will be back read more

Thumbling - Shanghai Shrimp and Pork Wonton Soup and pork xiao - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

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Sunday Night dinner, waited for maybe 30 mins for 2. Wasn't too bad, you scan the QR code outside. Food and service was great and quick! We got sat on one of the high tables by the kitchen, food overall was amazing and filling! The dumplings were perfectly cooked and I'm now obsessed with this peach lychee tea. read more

Thumbling - Lychee Peach Lychee Green Tea with Lychee jelly and Pork Dumplings - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

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Pro tip: call ahead to check the wait -- there's no Yelp check-in, and you have to be there in person to get on the list. Sampling hasn't been open very long, but there's almost always a line before they even open. Wait times can easily run 45 minutes to an hour, so I recommend having someone stop by early to put your name down. If you catch them on a good day and time, the food is absolutely worth it. Fresh ingredients, a great variety of handmade dumplings, and honestly such a special spot to have nearby. One thing I miss -- they used to have a clear view of the kitchen where you could watch the dumplings being made, but that's now closed off. Not a dealbreaker, just something I noticed. You order through the app once seated, service is smooth, and overall it's a great experience. I'd definitely recommend coming with family -- just plan ahead for the wait. read more

Thumbling - Marinated Cucumber Salad - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

Great food, excellent service, and a lovely ambiance! The staff was attentive and welcoming, and the atmosphere was comfortable and relaxing. We really enjoyed our experience and would definitely come back. read more

Service is always great and the food is amazing- leagues above Din Tai Fung. It's more of a traditional Chinese restaurant rather than an Americanized one. If you're looking for amazing food and don't care for the fine dining ambience of DTF, definitely come here instead. The wait can be similar but the prices and food quality are way better. read more

We went on Mother's Day at 2:30pm and on the waitlist it said that we were 22nd in line, however our table was ready within 10 mins for a party of 2. The service was great. We had people checking up on us every 5 mins, even the floor manager came to say hi. We liked the xlb but felt that the skin tasted bit more floury than we'd like, and the rice on the pork fried rice was not even coated with flavoring. Overall a good spot and we really felt welcomed! read more

Thumbling - Shanghainese Near Me - West Covina, California

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Ok, lemme just say this: Don't ever let them sit you at the bar. That's like asking "do you like staring at a wall and paying a bunch of money to do it?" The bar was dumb. The food was good! I like the beef roll, the chicken rice cakes and the chicken dumplings. All very good. The dumpling sauce and chili sauce were so good too. The service was horrid. We had to ask multiple times for water refills. Was this cuz they think we're idiots for sitting at the bar and staring at the wall? Probably. It was jam packed too. We got in right at 4:30p but any min after that and your gonna wait a stupid amount of time. And you'll probably be at the bar. The bar that has no cocktails. Just a wall to stare at. Dumb. read more

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I hear a lot of people compare this place to din tai fung, very similar menu some things they do way better some things not to the level of din tai. They have way better wontons and soup dumplings, more fillings and the meat is moist and flavorful on the inside. The bao however has less filing. Overall our food came out very fast for late lunch hour and it was all fresh and delicious, served quickly, and we sat right away! Very pleased and can't wait to come back! read more

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Let's just say this place was highly recommended, but did not meet my expectations in comparison to DTF. The service was good, good was out promptly and received everything basically at once. The quality of the food was pretty good. The price is good for the amount of food you get. The place is too small though for the tables they have , feels like you're having your dinner with the party next to you. Would I come back? Maybe if I'm in the area since it's like 30 min drive for Me. read more

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Thumbling XLB for $13! It's a little far but the XLB is larger. They also sell Pork Chop Fried Rice. We ordered the pan fried pork bun, which was a little disappointing. Tasty and delicious XLB makes the commute worth it! read more

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First time visiting this location, I walked inside to sign in and the hostess practically barked at me and others to go sign up outside. When signing in I requested a high chair because I have a 6 month old; however when I was given a table they did not have the high chair ready and offered me a strapless booster seat after I requested a high chair. After requesting a higchair again they sat me at the handicap table next to the restroom. I was not instructed anything and had to find out for myself that it was self order by scanning the QR code on the table. Once I figured out the system I was able to place my order. The food came out semi quickly and was deliciousThe honey Jasmine iced tea was terrible. The service was whatever. read more

Gosh. If I could, I would always want to come try this place like it's my first time. Have tried the xlbs, beef noodle soup, and the cucumber appetizer. All 3 items are 10/10. Service was fast and attentive. Lots of big tables for big parties, but also had a bar - m for duos and solos. read more