Cancel

Open app

Search

Ugly Dumpling

3.6 (159 reviews)
ModerateChinese, Noodles, Soup
Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Order Ugly Dumpling Takeout or Delivery

Ugly Dumpling Photos

Business Info

UGLY DUMPLING ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Dogs allowed

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Ugly Dumpling

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Dumpling Sampler
Haj R.

Great place for dumplings and beef soup. We came here a few months ago and had to return because I wanted the Braised beef soup which has a delicious broth, beef, baby bok choy. There is also a great selection of dumplings (chicken, pork). Highly recommend. Prices are reasonable and it is hard not to order more than one item. I will be coming here regularly.

Braised Baby Back Ribs, Pork Chop Fried Rice, and String Beans with Garlic
Nina S.

Ugly Dumpling is a Shanghai‑street food-inspired full‑service restaurant. Came across it when as we were heading to the mall (Fair Oaks Mall). Famous for its Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) with six protein fillings, the menu also includes dim sum, noodles, stir‑fried wok dishes, and Shanghai‑style appetizers. We got seated right away and our server came quickly. They have a bar so my companion ordered a drink he saw on their summer menu. Something with Lychee on it. It was good! We ordered three of their signature dishes --- Braised Baby Back Ribs (appetizer), Pork Chop Fried Rice and String Beans w/Garlic. Wish we could've ordered more but this was plenty for the two of us. All of the dishes were delicious! As we were leaving, the place started to get busy. There were people ordering to go as well as people who were dining in. If you're in the area, check the out!

Sweet and sour chicken
Amy P.

Returned and tried a different dishes, which was disappointing. The Kung pao chicken had no sauce and NO PEANUTS. Kimchi dumplings and hot and sour soup were good. Service was friendly. There was only one waiter, and he was swamped.

Crystal Shrimp Dumplings (6)
Julie S.

Came here during happy hour and that's definitely the way to go. We ordered the Ugly Bao Bun, soy garlic wings, and fried chicken dumplings, all half off, which made the experience much more worthwhile. Highly recommend stopping by specifically for the happy hour appetizer specials. The signature Ugly Dumpling sampler was good and worth checking out if you want to try a variety. The string beans with garlic were also tasty and flavorful. The soy garlic wings were solid, and the fried chicken dumplings were enjoyable. The crystal shrimp dumplings were a bit disappointing -- on the smaller side and didn't taste very fresh. The shrimp stir fry was just okay; it needed more flavor, and the shrimp were small and tasted like they may have been frozen. On the plus side, service was good -- our waiter was attentive and friendly. The restaurant is located inside the mall, with clean, spacious seating, which made for a comfortable dining experience. Overall, a decent spot, especially if you catch the happy hour deals. Without the discounts, some dishes might not feel as worth it, but there are definitely a few items worth ordering.

Spicy Pork & Shrimp Wontons (8)
Kimberly S.

Shumai, service, and space were great! It is clear that Ugly Dumpling hand makes all their dumplings. I especially liked the wonton and shumai, the thin delicate skin and fully filled filling made it delicious. To me the dumpling, although tasty and soupy, the skin was too thick. The food all came out steaming as if it was made to order. My main note is that the pork ribs were too sweet and the bright red color was a little bit off putting.

Chicken Dumplings (6)
Laura W.

My kids and I ate here for lunch on NYE before going to the Children's science center lab. We were seated quickly and greeted by our server soon after. We were told portions are meant for sharing and come out as ready. For the three of us, we ordered: -chicken soup dumplings (very tasty and hot temperature wise-son loved them-6 to an order) -chicken and broccoli (lots and lots of broccoli! Fair amount of chicken-daughter loved it and finished all the chicken-I helped her with the broccoli since there was so much) -soy garlic wings (again, very flavorful and juicy-6 to an order) Dining room was spacious, nice restrooms. Very casual; Great sit-down addition to Fair Oaks Mall!

Mia H.

I came here for lunch and it wasn't a bad choice. Located at Fair Oaks mall, this spot is a great stop for a bite as you shop. Our waiter, Abel, was so kind and absolutely amazing. Service was super quick, and great. We ordered their spicy wontons, braised beef ribs, XLB, shredded beef noodles, and salt and pepper popcorn chicken. For food, I thought that it was all alright. I wish that the food had more depth to them--especially the spicy wontons and the beef noodles. However, I did enjoy their XLB and thought that the broth in the pork and shrimp XLB was delicious. The braised beef ribs were also a good portion and had a good marinade. Overall, not a bad option for some quick Taiwanese dim sum/food!

Pork & Truffle Soup Dumpling (6)
Michelle M.

I came here with a friend on a weeknight. I reviewed the menu and it is very similar to Din Tai Fung, which I am very familiar with and have tried when I visited Taipei many years ago. We were seated as soon as we arrived. Our server was really friendly and helped us choose what to order. We ordered Pork Xiao Long Bao and Pork & Truffle Xiao Long Bao. They both arrived steaming hot. We also shared a Pork Chop Fried Rice. Everything was good but maybe not as good as the international chain that they were trying to copy - but definitely good enough for my xiao long bao cravings. We also got a mango bao dessert for free. The ambiance is great - quite spacious and somehow reminds me of the Din Tai Fung in Taipei. Overall, my dining experience was great but could be better. Would love to go back.

Hot & Sour Soup
Minh-Nhat N.

I came here for a dinner in a group of 4 without a reservation at 6:45 on a Friday. We were told there would be a 35 min wait, so we joined the waitlist. After about 17 minutes, we received a text that our table was ready. The hot & sour soup was solid and came in a large portion (for 2 people). The sesame sauce noodles was creamy, but could've had more oompf with a maybe a ground pork topping or something. The soup dumplings were okay and had a nice broth, but the wrappers were too thick (a common problem for soup dumplings). The creamy shrimp was similar to honey walnut shrimp and the broccoli was steamed perfectly. The ambiance was casual and the service was great! Overall, everything was good, but nothing amazing. It was like a more upscale Panda Express (right across the hall) that offers soup dumplings.

Noodles with Spicy Sauce, Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken, Spicy Pork & Shrimp Wontons (8)
Vincent M.

Located in Fair Oaks Mall, this place looks almost identical (if not a mini version of din tai fung). There a clear glass for the dumpling station and the fixtures are remnant of an upscale casual dining experience. The food overall was.... Just okay. The saving grace of the meal was the popcorn chicken (my absolute fav). The soup dumplings were good but just alright. It didnt feel like it came out fresh but rather the wonton skin was a little hardened. The flavor was great though, no complaints. The spicy sauce noodles were... off. They didn't really have must seasoning nor taste and was heavily disappointed on this. The wontons, on the other hand, were just okay. Nothing really impressive regarding the flavor profile. Service was excellent though. Our waiter was kind mannered, patient, and was readily available for us. Would I go here again? Maybe? But I wouldn't savor this place compared to some others in the area.

Mongolian Beef
Tiffany N.

We had a fantastic dining experience at Ugly Dumplings! Junior and Connor were our servers, and they were absolutely wonderful, so attentive, friendly, and welcoming, which really made our visit special. The food was scrumptious. We ordered the string beans with garlic, spicy chili wontons, Mongolian beef with rice, and Szechuan soup dumplings, and everything was delicious. The whole vibe of the restaurant was great, from the atmosphere to the service. We would definitely be back and highly recommend this place!

Vegan Wonton Soup
Shweta S.

This place is inside the mall. It has chic indoors and I always love it when I can see the dumplings in making love, reminded me of Din Tai Fung! We ordered Spicy Vegan Wontons, Edamame and Vegan Wonton Soup and everything was super delicious, the broth ohh so flavorful! The server was also very nice in explaining all the different menu items that we were confused about. Multiple options for fellow vegetarians and vegans. I might try the Vegan Dumpling next time

XLB kitchen
Darrell L.

Been hearing a lot about Ugly Dumpling and that it is similar to Din Tai Fung so we want to try it for ourselves. Located in Fair Oaks Mall next to Elevation Burger & Panda Express. Nice renovation with a casual vibe and even a bar area with TV's. If the wife or GF is shopping and you want to grab a beer and watch a game this would be a good spot. Service can be a bit spotty. Younger folks waiting tables and it is a little inconsistent. We ask for water and the waiter forgets. We asked for chopsticks and am told they have no more. Huh?!? No chopsticks in a Chinese restaurant?? To top it off another waiter comes by and brings chopsticks... Food- Overall the food is good. Enjoyed the wings, the string beans, sesame noodles, kung pao chicken. The Soup Dumplings, unfortunately were unevenly made. 2 had a good amount of soup in them but the other 4 had none...unfortunate. The taste is good...but you can't sell soup dumplings without soup. They were also out of pork chops as we wanted to order the pork chop fried rice so that was disappointing. Overall, 3.5 stars is a spot on rating. Service needs to tighten up and Mgmt needs to have a tighter grasp around inventory so they don't run out of dishes by 6pm. Lastly, quality control needs to be better so that the best quality of a dish is actually served (i.e. soup in the soup dumpling). That said, I'd go back to give them another try.

Chicken & Broccoli

See all

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

10 months ago

Amazing experience with our friends! Brook made it a 10/10!!! He's fun, helpful, great vibes! Thank you, Brook!

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Abel was awesome . great service, nice and clean environment . Amazing food and drinks

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Brook was great! He was very attentive and polite would certainly come again and recommend the spicy chicken wontons!

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of S W.
0
21
0

1 year ago

Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. A Din Tai Fong copy cat at reasonable prices. Love the Happy Hour!

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Greg C.
42
63
0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Cee G.
0
28
1

1 year ago

The cucumber salad is excellent! However, we found a "bee" in the noodles yak! Now u wonder how safe & clean are the rest in the menu?

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Brook provided us with great service! Also, the meal was very good! The music was also good.

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Butch K.
8
152
39

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Wei L.
27
12
1

1 year ago

The dumplings are tiny, and the flavor is not any better than the store bought dumplings

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Erik was a great service and was knowledgeable of the menu. Great experience overall!

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Amazing food! Very authentic, I haven't had such great dumplings since I live in China!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Brooke gave amazing service the time that we went! He was very warm and gave an amazing run down on each dish during our first time!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

The boba is amazing love it 2nd best boba I have ever had. the service was amazing Cyrus was the best so nice.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Josh L.

Josh L.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 4 of 4

Ask the Community - Ugly Dumpling

Is there a buffet?

No. This is not a buffet. But this is made fresh delivered to table minutes after you've ordered it.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Songbird - Sticky Crispy Beef

Songbird

4.3(335 reviews)
2.2 mi
•$$

Flew into town for a concert and saw this at the top of the recommendations, very serendipitous!…read more The place has a great atmosphere from the moment you walk in, the decor has a unique kitsch and the music is a definite vibe as well, and that's before you meet the staff. The staff was friendly front to back, hostess, waitress, bar tender- friendly and knew the menu and had solid recommendations and knowledge of the menu. The food was great, we had rangoons for an appetizer, followed by their famous General Tso's and the Mongolian Combination, all delicious! Highly recommend this place if you're in the area! Shout out to Jason!

I came here with a couple of friends who live in the area. The initial vibe and aesthetic seemed…read morereally cool. I was excited for my meal and experience there. However things went downhill pretty quickly. I ordered one of their specialty cocktails, which is more expensive than most of their meals, which was just ok. The drink was pretty strong which I didn't mind but most of it was just ice and the gummy was a little stale. Overall it looked cool but didn't really justify the price. The service is really where I felt let down. The 2 friends that I came with got their food in a normal timespan but it took 20-30 minutes for me to get my food. When I asked about it (because clearly they forgot) they lied and said their kitchen was backed up and the order is being prepared. The restaurant was half empty at that point so it was a little hard to believe. Also another waiter came out 10 minutes later and said my food just started to get cooked and will be out soon. Both my friends were pretty much done with their meals by the time I got mine and I didn't get anything from the staff aside from an insincere apology and a bad excuse. For the price we paid I expected much better service and for the staff to go above and beyond when they make a mistake, which didn't happen. The food was good when it eventually did come out though so I I'll give it an extra star for that.

Photos
Songbird - Cool bar

Cool bar

Songbird - General Tso chicken

General Tso chicken

Songbird - Water carafe

See all

Water carafe

Mama Chang - Shrimp Dumplings

Mama Chang

3.9(1k reviews)
4.5 mi
•$$

10/16/2026 More like…read more3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars considering the location of the restaurant My orders: Cumin Lamb Bites -- DEFINITELY ORDER IT! The best I've ever had! Perfectly crispy on the outside, bursting with flavor, while the inside is incredibly tender and equally flavorful. Absolutely delicious! Pan-Fried Seafood & Chive Dumplings -- Just Okay Disappointing compared to what I'm used to in LA, where you actually get big, plump shrimp. Here, it was mostly chives mixed with what seemed like seafood paste. The skin was also too thick and doughy. However, the filling was very flavorful, which somewhat made up for its shortcomings. Seafood with Crispy Rice -- I'd Say Skip It! The homemade crispy rice was ridiculously hard, barely edible even after soaking in the soup! The soup contained shrimp, fish, homemade fish balls, bok choy, wood ear mushrooms, white beech mushrooms, and thinly sliced carrots (IMHO, mostly for color). While flavorful, the broth had a slight fishiness. The highlight was definitely the homemade fish balls stuffed with fresh scallops! Never had anything like them before! Dry-Fried Cauliflower -- DEFINITELY ORDER IT! Soooo good! Crispy, crunchy cauliflower in a light batter, packed with flavor and a nice spicy kick. The cilantro adds freshness and fragrance that take this dish to another level. A must-order! Scallion Bubble Pancake -- Overhyped, IMHO! Honestly, I don't understand the hype! It's basically Indian bhatura, but without the chewiness. And why call it "scallion" when there's absolutely no scallion flavor or visible scallions? The curry dipping sauce was thick (seemingly from cornstarch) and so mild it was barely noticeable. The pancake was decent while hot but turned hard once cooled, unlike bhatura. I LOVE the concept, but the execution falls short. Add actual chopped scallions and either ditch the curry sauce or make its flavor much bolder! Sesame Noodles -- SKIP IT! Another of their most popular and highly recommended dishes, but I've definitely had better elsewhere! The noodles were dry even after mixing in all the sauce, and the flavor was underwhelming. We didn't even finish it. Overall: The Cumin Lamb Bites and Dry-Fried Cauliflower were the clear winners! The rest ranged from just okay to disappointing, especially given all the hype.

The food overall is good, but the hosts aren't doing their job. Tables sat empty for a long time…read morewhile guests waited, and the hosts just kept rearranging chairs instead of seating people. What can improve: The service and the hosts

Photos
Mama Chang - Indoor seating

Indoor seating

Mama Chang - Stir-Fried Beef Tenderloin

Stir-Fried Beef Tenderloin

Mama Chang - Peking Duck

See all

Peking Duck

Yu Noodles - Soup dumplings

Yu Noodles

4.2(683 reviews)
1.6 mi
•$$

My husband and I love coming here when we're craving dumpkings. You really can't go wrong with the…read moremenu, but our favorites are the spicy oil pork wontons, pan friend chive and pork dumplings, steamed crystal shrimp dumplings, and the pork soup dumplings. We always order the cucumber with garlic sauce as an appetizer. It's refreshing and crisp and really complements the richness of the dumplings perfectly! The service is fast and the staff is always warm and friendly. Finding parking is also very easy. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for dumplings and noodles.

I visited Yu Noodles for dinner last week around 6:30-7 p.m., and overall, the food was absolutely…read moredelicious! We ordered their popular spicy noodles with ground pork, pork and chive dumplings, chicken soup dumplings, and cucumber salad. Everything was a solid 10/10! The flavors were fantastic, the food came out quickly, and the service was great throughout most of our visit. My only disappointment came toward the end of the evening. About 20 minutes before closing, our waiter approached us and told us they were closed. While I completely understand wanting to wrap things up at the end of a shift, the restaurant wasn't officially closed yet, and there were other tables still dining that didn't appear to receive the same message. It felt a little abrupt, and I think the situation could have been handled more tactfully. That said, the food was excellent, and I would absolutely return. Just a small service detail that took away from an otherwise wonderful dining experience!

Photos
Yu Noodles - Interior

Interior

Yu Noodles - N9. Hot & Sour Foon

N9. Hot & Sour Foon

Yu Noodles - N5. Yibin Spicy Dry Noodle

See all

N5. Yibin Spicy Dry Noodle

Cheng's Asian House - Plain Steamed Rice - perfectly steamed!

Cheng's Asian House

4.2(862 reviews)
5.6 mi
•$$

If you're looking for outstanding Asian food, this place is absolutely worth seeking out. The…read morelocation is a little tucked away, but the food more than makes up for it. The portions are incredibly generous, and every dish we tried was delicious. The drunken noodles were packed with flavor, the fried rice was perfectly cooked, the Tso's chicken was excellent, and the steamed fish was fresh and beautifully prepared. The highlight of the meal was the spectacular tableside Flambé dessert--it was both delicious and a fun experience. The service was exceptional. Our waitress was incredibly sweet, attentive, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the meal. The owners were also warm and welcoming, adding to the wonderful dining experience. And don't skip the beer--it was fantastic! Great food, generous portions, outstanding hospitality, and excellent value. We'll definitely be back.

I saw this place named on some guy's list of best restaurants in NOVA. We only ordered 4 dishes so…read moreI can't speak for the rest of the menu. But what we did get was pretty darn good (if a bit pricey)! The style is much more authentic, so if you're looking for something like Hunan Cafe (Greenbriar), or that NOVA institution China King, this is different. Is it better? For the most part, yes. (But I still crave that Americanized sweet, spicy, glazey brown sauce that comes in slight variations in so many dishes). I had the hot and sour soup, Szechuan spicy fried eggplant sticks, Taiwanese rice noodles with fried tofu, and the Chengdu twice cooked pork. Everything was excellent, except....the hot and sour soup. Honestly, Hunan Cafe and China King beat the pants off this place's hot and sour soup. Here, it was a bit too sweet. It had some red chilies in it, but I could not detect much white pepper. And it's a vegetarian version, so no small bits of chicken or pork. I'd skip this the next time I order from here. But the other dishes... amazing! The noodles were light-tasting but still delicious. The eggplant was garnished with cilantro, garlic, salt, and red chili sauce. The twice cooked pork was sauteed with sliced leeks and the same red chili sauce. I think that's the fresh, zingy, spice flavor profile I like that can't be found at Americanized Chinese restaurants. Sure, China King has its place and I'll still go back there when I'm close (RIP China King Fair Lakes and Herndon). And admittedly, I go to that awful Panda chain occasionally because I never learn. The unfortunate thing is, I'll more likely go to these places than Cheng's because of the price. The pork dish was $21 and the noodle dish was $19. My total bill came to $60 before tax and tip. If I need to stuff my face with a Chinese umami bomb fast, I'm probably going to the other places for $15-30. I do want to try the rest of the menu at Cheng's, but it's going to be a drawn-out process for the sake of my wallet. I'd be remiss if I didn't include a comment from my dining partner. She compared the quality and taste of the food at Cheng's to Peter Chang's (either Peter Chang's-Herndon, or Mama Chang Fairfax). A high compliment. But she said the value is better at those places' AYCE options than what we got at Cheng's, and I agree. If you've been to none of these places, you have to try them all at least once.

Photos
Cheng's Asian House
Cheng's Asian House - Sesame Chicken

Sesame Chicken

Cheng's Asian House - Banana Flambe - set up

See all

Banana Flambe - set up

Ugly Dumpling - chinese - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...