Alexandria R.

While walking around the Bay plaza Mall, we noticed this restaurant and since I'm always craving Chinese food, I was immediately game. Food: 3.5/5 We decided to go big and ordered four dishes to start: * Beef noodle soup * Sesame noodles * Pork & shrimp spicy wontons (no soup) * Pork soup dumplings The sesame noodles were the biggest surprise of the night. The portion was massive (almost the size of the beef noodle soup), super flavorful, and only around $8, which honestly felt like a steal. I would 100% order this again. My husband loved the beef noodle soup. The portion was generous, with plenty of noodles and lots of beef tendon. If you're someone who enjoys tendon, this is a solid. The spicy wontons were... fine. I won't lie -- they were pretty mid. When I hear "spicy" in Chinese food, I'm expecting more Sichuan-style heat, but this was very mild, more like light chili oil. Definitely not for anyone looking for real spicy/辣的菜. The soup dumplings weren't bad either. I've had better in Flushing and Elmhurst, but these were decent. I did find them a little salty, and the wrapper was thicker than I usually prefer, but overall still enjoyable. We also added the beef stir-fried noodles at the last minute to try another noodle option, and honestly... I really didn't like them. They were extremely oily and smelled a little off. I couldn't finish them. That said, our server (Shenxing) was incredibly kind and offered to replace the dish, but we were already too full to swap it. Service & Vibe:5/5 Service was genuinely great. We were seated immediately despite how busy it was, and our server was attentive and thoughtful, especially with offering to exchange the dish we didn't like. The vibe is casual, busy, and family-friendly. You could tell this place is popular with families and younger people who want a solid meal without spending a ton. Being inside the mall also makes it super convenient. All in all, our bill before tip was around $70 for five dishes and two teas, which honestly shocked me in the best way. It's rare to leave a restaurant in New York this full without spending way more. I totally get why this place is popular. While not everything hit, the sesame noodles and beef noodle soup alone make it worth coming back for. Overall, really glad I tried it.

Betula F.

Went to the mall yesterday and decided to stop by Ugly Dumpling to dine in. It was busy but not too busy because I was seated right away. I asked for a booth because I had a few bags, they had one available near the back. I sat at table 77. I was close to the bathroom (not too close where you can see who is in and out). I was able to leave my shopping bags (covered under my coat) to rush the bathroom. It's visible to others would have been aware if I got jacked lol. I ordered a Diet Pepsi with lemon. Sipped on that for awhile and decided to order the Braised Beef Noodle Soup. It was REALLY good. I added some chili oil (already on the tables). I ordered to go the cheesecake with fortune cookies. When i arrived home I realized the fortune cookies were on the side so I smashed them up into crumbles and put on top of the cheesecake. I enjoyed that. Ugly Dumpling is a nice spot to dine after your trip to the mall. They are located a few steps away from the mall entrance. Try em!

Jenifer V.

We were in co-op city looking for places to eat on a weekend! We had no luck in many and the wait was long. Luckily this place was spacious and it had plenty of tables available. We sat and ordered the sampler dumpling. The appetizer came fast. We were supper hungry so we appreciated the speed. I ordered the beef dish which was delicious. My partner also enjoyed his ramen. My PR mother-in-law was hesitant about the food so she only had a soup. Still she like her soul.

Hernidia G.

Ain't nothing ugly about the Ugly Dumpling inside the Bay Plaza Mall! This restaurant is clean, modern, great for dining in, or enjoying a drink and sports game at the fully loaded bar. We went on a Saturday afternoon and the place wasn't full at all. We had no problems getting a table and our waiter was so informative, accommodating, and very attentive; also really cute :) He took the time to explain the menu, described the ingredients in each dish, checked in for any potential allergies, and advised on the spice level of all items ordered. We had the Soy Garlic Wings 10/10 (crispy + tasty), Pork + Shrimp Wonton Dumplings 10/10 (tasty + not too spicy), Braised Beef Noodle Soup 8/10 (delicious + the beef was fall of the bone tender/I think I was just expecting a more miso broth than a ginger one but still really good), Pork Fried Rice 10/10 (delicious + didn't even need soy sauce). We had a great experience and will definitely return to try their flavored iced teas and other menu options!

Dominique W.

Ugly Dumpling is officially open in Bay Plaza Mall, and I had to check it out! The food overall was flavorful and fresh definitely a great new spot for the Bronx. What I Ordered: * Spare Ribs - (5/5) juicy, tender, and packed with flavor * Soy Garlic Wings - 1/2 (3.5/5) good but could've been crispier * Shrimp Stir Fry - (5/5) perfectly seasoned * Orange Chicken - (5/5) crispy, sweet, and tangy * Dumpling Sampler - (4/5) great mix of flavors * Vegetable Fried Rice - (2/5) the only miss a little too mushy for my taste Everything else was honestly tasty! I'd definitely go back for the spare ribs and orange chicken, and to try out a few more dumpling options next time.

Lynda G.

Today, I had the pleasure of dining with my mom for lunch. I ordered the fried chicken dumplings and the pork chop fried rice which were delicious, and the dumplings sampler provided a delightful assortment. My mom decided on the shrimp and noodles, accompanied by the wonton soup. I was able to taste the shrimp and noodle dish, which proved to be equally delicious. While one of the dumplings in the sampler was notably spicy, the others were enjoyable. NOTE: When consuming dumplings, it is crucial to create a small opening to allow steam to escape (don't learn the hard way). LOL Our waiter Jean S was just wonderful.

Sha S.

Wow, the food in this place is marvelous. Me and my boyfriend got the soup dumplings (I got the chicken and he got the pork), braised beef noodle soup and the cucumber salad. Everything was so delicious. I was very surprised at the cucumber salad. It's really hard to make it savory enough without the overpowering taste of garlic/ginger. But Ugly Dumpling got it right. The ambiance is really nice. There's dim sum plates all over the restaurant as decor. It really gave a nice Asian feel to the place. The color scheme is also neutral so it's really nice to photograph. They also have an area in the restaurant where you can see the chefs making the dumplings behind the glass. The service was pretty solid. It is a new restaurant so the workers are still learning. Our waitress was really friendly. I would just take one star off for the wait. We waited a whole hour for a table for 2. When we sat down, we saw probably more than half of the restaurants' tables still empty. So I'm unsure why there is a huge wait when tables are empty. A lot of people were also walking out because apparently the wait time had gone up to 3 hours. I would recommend going when the hype dies down. The food is good and I intend to come back when it's less busier.

Alex Dallas M.

The place looks great, modern, clean, and full of energy. They don't take reservations, so when you arrive, they greet you and add you to a waitlist. When we went, the wait was quoted at 1 hour and 50 minutes, but I know places usually overestimate so I agreed to be added to the list. They take your number and send you a text when your table's ready. You've got about 10 minutes to return once you get the notification. I love this feature because it gives you time to stroll around the mall while you wait but we opted to just wait at the seating area at the restaurant. As expected, we got the text after just an hour, 50 minutes ahead of the quoted time.  Once we were seated, it took a little time before someone came over (and I'm blaming that on them being so new), but after we placed our order, the food came out super fast. Honestly, that saved the experience so major points for that! The staff really stepped up to the plate to rectify the issue. Shout out to the servers, Demaris and Gabby! I hope I'm spelling these correctly, but they deserve recognition for their level of hospitality. There's also this cool glass window where you can watch the staff (mostly older Asian ladies) hand-roll and fill dumplings. Watching them work was mesmerizing and made the food feel even more authentic. What We Ordered: Pork & Shrimp Wonton Soup Spicy Chicken Wontons Pork Soup Dumplings Orange Chicken Bao Buns Pork Cutlet Fried Rice Top tier were the Pork Cutlet Fried Rice and the Spicy Chicken Wontons. Close second were the Soup Dumplings and the Wonton Soup they were warm, comforting, and packed with umami. The only thing I wouldn't reorder is the Bao Buns, the orange chicken was made with dark meat, and I personally prefer white meat. Side Note:  The soup dumplings seriously remind me of Joe's Shanghai in Chinatown. That's high praise because those are the best I've ever had and Ugly Dumpling can compete. Because of its location right in Bay Plaza Mall and the constant foot traffic, I expect there will always be a bit of a wait. But once the staff is fully trained and they're able to use the entire space, I'm hoping that line moves much faster. Until then come prepared to wait a little, but know the food is absolutely worth it.

Chabely I.

This Chinese restaurant not only has tasty food but it's also a spacious place with nice scenery. The food is quite affordable and the service is great. I had their soup dumpling sampler, beef noodle soup, and chocolate chip cookie dessert. The location of it at Bay Plaza Mall is perfect.

Melissa P.

The service from TT our waitress was amazing. She was attentive and informative. The ambiance was great the decor is amazing. Baby friendly in the morning. We had chicken bao buns, kimchi dumplings, chicken vegetable fried rice and steak noodles. The fried rice was ok better with the soy sauce. The appetizers are amazing. The brown sugar boba is a must have and the mango green tea. Would come here again.

Ameil S.

Popped into the ugly Dumpling today for the first time and I will say I was impressed with the ambience. It was beautiful. It was light. It was airy. The service was immediate professional, and very good and the food was quite yummy. The dumplings were delicious that braised beef is seasoned beautifully and the broth is really very good. I will definitely be going back

Jasmine J.

This review is long over due lol. We came here the week of it's opening. Mom, sis and I. We ordered a variety of items to try. We did the Soup Dumpling Sampler, Braised Baby Back Ribs, Braised Beef Noodle Soup and Fried Calamari. The sauces at the table really helped add flavor to the soup. The soup dumpling sampler was my favorite. It came with 6 different dumplings and they were all delicious (except thw really hot one lol) (Szechuan Pork). My favorite one was the Pork &Truffle. I'm not really a calamari person but these ones were nice and crispy, didn't even need any sauce. I didn't really like the braised ribs, they tasted more burnt to me then anything. The place looks and fewls very peaceful, nice lighting and they well also give you a tour to see how the dumplings are made. The service is also what will get me to come back. Our waiter was informative and nice. It was also funny to see the host/ess competeing to see who could say hi first to the customers coming in. I'd definitely come back here for another try.

Kim B.

Sooooooooo good but a bit on the salty and oily side. Will recommend though.. check it out.