Came in for a bite and was happily satisfied with what I had. Ordered the spicy chicken wontons which tasted fresh & homemade, and the ugly dumpling sampler of 6 soup dumplings. Skin was a lil thicker and tougher than I like but I appreciate the option for a variety of soup dumplings. Overall would come back for a meal. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Spicy Chicken Wontons (8) - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Came here on a Monday at 3 PM for some late lunch. We order the crab Rangoon which were on happy hour special. They weren't very good, super sweet kind of tasted like something you'd get from the frozen section of a grocery store. The soup dumplings were also not good, the outer casing was tough and thick, it didn't feel made in house but rather frozen and reheated. They don't let you mix and match. We did really enjoy the Mongolian beef. I almost wanted to give a two star for the horrible service. The waitress only had 2 tables and we had to try and get her to take our order multiple times. We noticed the waiters were all hanging out at a table near the bar area chatting. I never got a refill and it took about 20 minutes for her to take our order. The bathrooms were filthy and in disrepair. Two stalls were broken, the metal chipping off the faucets. Overall, they need to work on quality of the food, cleanliness and service. read more

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This was my first time at Ugly Dumpling and I will definitely be back! Inside: The inside is nice. It's a clean and clear aesthetic. Very open yet intimate. Great for solo and small group dates. Service: My waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable. I took her recommendations and was not disappointed. Food and Drink: Everything is truly made to order. I got the Beef Noodle Soup, Soy Chicken Wings, and Lychee Berry Martini. The Braised Beef Noodle Soup and Soy Garlic Chicken Wings were piping hot and flavorful. 10/10 for the wings. 8/10 for the soup. The Lychee Berry Martini has great potential. I felt that it lacked depth in flavor profile. I would like to suggest a hint of something sour or bitter to cut through the sweetness of the puree or syrup: solid 6/10 Overall, I had a great, peaceful experience. read more

I was excited to have an opportunity to take my wife to a dumpling house that is actually nearby. We were not disappointed. The space is huge for a walking-mall restaurant, with several dozen tables and booths. Music is nice background not overly loud. Service was absolutely excellent and food came out within minutes. Empty dishes picked up within seconds. We ordered an appetizer of crab rangoon. It came to us hot and tasty but to be honest it had little to no fake crab in it. That was a little disappointing. For our mains I had chicken stir fried noodles and pork soup dumplings. When it was put in front of me I thought the noodles looked like a smallish portion but this turned out not to be the case -- the dish was more than adequate and very nicely composed. I enjoyed every bit of it but barely finished it. The soup dumplings were umami-on-a-spoon. Served in a steam basket, these were very warm and the broth inside was just perfect. I thought it was a tad salty, my wife disagreed. And since it was her main course and not mine, I will bow to her opinion. This was a nice casual meal, especially for the price. If you go, do not pass up the opportunity to walk up to the bao station and watch the food being made. Our server encouraged us to do this, and it was really interesting, and the staff doesn't seem to mind the attention! read more

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Food was good. Nice atmosphere. Wish we could have set outside. It's was nice watching them make the dumplings by hand. Great margaritas. read more

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The restaurant is very cute inside. I love that you have the option to watch them make the soup buns! The drinks were delicious. The lychee margarita?! PERFECT. Other than that.... The food was okay. Our waitress kept messing up our split(2 checks) checks, the orders, happy hour prices, wrong stuff on the wrong tickets. Forgot to give us part of our food. Overall... it's just okay. read more

I popped in for a late lunch on a hot day and was greeted with a cool, modern, comfortable restaurant with a have happy hour from 2-6pm with half price cocktails, beer & wine plus half price appetizers. My waiter, David, was incredibly friendly and when asked for recommendations, he gave me plenty to choose from and was very patient. There is no rush here. Order as you want, the food comes as it's ready so I started with apps then added a noodle soup at the end as it looked so good on the menu, though honestly I could have filled myself on the apps. I started with the spicy ginger margarita. Very good with the right amount of bite from the ginger, served in a high ball with a generous rim of seasoning. Definitely a steal at half price. I added the spring rolls which are crunchy and served with a yummy sauce. Then I tried the BBQ pork buns, also a steal at half price. I could have eaten several servings of these. Fluffy & soft on the outside, the bbq inside was delicious and one was so hot (and I admittedly ate the first one way too fast as it was so good) that I burned my mouth. This did not stop me from digging into the second and last bun, I just ate more cautiously. I added some soy sauce and some spicy crunch (available on the table) and was very pleased. You could seriously have a very nice meal at happy hour prices and leave full. I finished with the braised pork noodle soup at full price. The broth was rich and comforting, the beef tender and easy to eat with chopt sticks. Noodles were plentiful but I've never mastered eating noodles with chopt sticks. I will most definitely be coming back. I want to try the ramen as it also looked very good. So many choices here and everything was wonderful. The total for all of that food and a cocktail came to $33 before tip and I left full. read more

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We got a wide selection of buns and also sauteed green beans. The green beans were even good cold when I went to eat the leftovers. Great service and laid back atmosphere. Since it was connected to the local mall we were able to walk around a bit there also. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Sauteed green beans - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Because this was our first visit we ordered a variety of foods to share: a dumpling sampler, cucumber salad, crystal shrimp dumpling, cream cheese Rangoon, orange chicken, and string beans with garlic. We enjoyed our meal and were especially partial to the green beans and cucumber salad. The dining area has a very peaceful ambiance. Maria provided outstanding service. read more

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We recently visited Ugly Dumpling for the first time, and the ambience immediately stood out. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful it is fun, modern, and welcoming. We came in with a newborn and asked to be seated off to the side so I would have privacy to breastfeed, and the staff was very accommodating, which I truly appreciated. Since this was our first visit, I'm not sure what the typical wait time is, but it did feel like we were almost forgotten after being seated. Once our waitress did come over, she was absolutely wonderful. She was friendly, attentive during interactions, and extremely knowledgeable. She took the time to explain the menu, describe the dishes, and even went over each item again once the food arrived at the table. The food came out very quickly and actually before our drinks did. We were seated near the bar and could see our drinks sitting on the counter for quite some time. It was surprising how long it took for them to be delivered, especially since the bar wasn't far from us. After waiting and not being able to locate a waitress, we asked the hostess if she could hand us our drinks, and she kindly did. Unfortunately, the drinks and food didn't quite meet our expectations. We were not fans of the boba tea. The yogurt balls didn't taste very good, and while I've had boba before and usually enjoy it, this one tasted very different from others I've tried. As for the food, it honestly wasn't very good overall, which was disappointing because I had high hopes. A few items like the cheesy wontons and egg rolls were good, but not at the level I expected based on the hype and atmosphere. That said, there were many positives beyond the food. Sitting near the bar was enjoyable, especially with the variety of shows playing on the TVs. The bathrooms were extremely clean, which I always appreciate, and I loved that the stalls were larger than usual. Seeing mouthwash available at the sink when I came out to wash my hands was such a thoughtful and impressive touch. While our waitress was kind and knowledgeable, I did notice that she didn't stop by our table very often. I'm not sure if that was because we were tucked away in a corner or because most of the crowd was seated on the other side of the restaurant. Overall, Ugly Dumpling is a stunning restaurant with great ambience and a very friendly, accommodating staff. However, the food and drinks didn't quite live up to the expectations set by the space. I'm glad we tried it, and while I may consider giving it another chance, I do hope the consistency improves. read more

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Hate to take my stars back , I door dashed tonight like I usually do . I had ordered variety of items hot and sour soup , bbq buns, boba drink , spinach and shrimp soup dumplings , soup dumpling sampler . Three things was missing from the item listed above : bbq buns (for my kids) spinach and shrimp soup dumplings . And the drink. Out of alll the item . The drink . So sad , I'll never dash again from this place. Disappointed. read more

I tried Ugly Dumpling and really loved the food here! The restaurant itself is super cute and you are able to see a tiny kitchen where they make dumplings in front of you (Pretty awesome). For appetizer I got the cream cheese rangoons which were pretty good, just very cream cheese heavy. The BEST thing I tried was definitely the orange chicken. It is seriously one of the best I have tried. It is crunchy, flavorful, and so delicious, especially with their spicy crunchy oil on top. I could honestly come back just for that. The orange chicken from Ugly Dumpling is absolutely amazing!!!!! I was recommended the orange chicken by my server who was very kind and attentive!! Also, I got the noodles with spicy sauce which weren't super spicy but still tasty and I tried the veggie bao buns for the first time and really enjoyed them! Overall great food, and I will definitely keep coming back. read more

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I came back after about a year, and the decline was impossible to miss. The first red flag was walking in during Saturday lunch and seeing the place nearly empty. Unfortunately, the food explained why. The braised pork ribs used to be the reason I came here--crispy, deeply caramelized, and packed with that authentic balance of soy sauce, rock sugar, and black vinegar. This time, they tasted like generic American Chinese takeout: one-dimensional, overly sweet, and stripped of all the depth that made them memorable. They have completely lost their soul. The fried chicken over rice was another disappointment. It was greasy, bland, and had an unpleasant gamey/off taste. There was no wok hei whatsoever, the chicken itself wasn't properly seasoned, and even the salt wasn't evenly mixed into the rice. Every bite felt flat and carelessly prepared. The handmade dumplings were the lone bright spot. The filling was still flavorful and you could tell they were made in-house, but even they seemed past their prime--slightly dry, as if they'd been sitting around too long. This place has gone from being worth the trip to a shadow of its former self. It's a textbook case of resting on past reputation while letting quality slip. In trying to appeal to everyone, they've thrown the baby out with the bathwater. The dishes have lost the very character that made them worth seeking out. read more

The food is tasty and I enjoyed my orange chicken immensely. You can tell it was grilled or at least had a grilled flavor. When I saw the price and found out white rice wasn't included I was severely disappointed and confused. Rice is a food staple especially with Asian food. We paid the $3 for the white rice. Although, the substantial orange chicken portions made up for this. Our waitress was highly attentive and kind. My husband's food as well as mine came out significantly later. Our waitress was very apologetic. The wait wasn't as much a huge deal because we had ordered appetizers to tide us over. However, if we hadn't we probably would have been hangry. My sister ordered a shrimp noodle dish and stated it was good but there were more noodles than shrimp. The fried chicken dumplings were good as were the pork soup dumplings. It's a lovely clean restaurant. However, attention to the restroom floors were needed. Another patron and I ended up with sticky shoes from the restroom floor. read more

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Food They have a few items on DoorDash not on their regular menu so flagging that. Green tea noodles with spicy sauce the green tea was really subtle. Good portion for the price, the chilli oil on the table gave it a bit more spice too. The sauce was the best thing we had in the table. Vegan wonton I really liked them. They were well made and the sauce that came with them was good. Garlic broccoli broccoli with garlic so as you would expect it. Vegan dumplings the most disappointing thing we had on the table. We found this to be okay, but nothing special. The food was served family style so it was supposed to come to our table as it came. It seemed like they held some plates because our wonton and the noodles were a little on the cold side, but the broccoli was steaming. Service our server Liv was great. She was knowledgable about the menu and was open to admitting she never had something. Gave recommendations on what her tables have said about things which was nice. The hosts seemed off, they had to check which tables were open and then set them. It took a bit of time for us to be sat as a party of two on a late Saturday afternoon. At one point someone was putting in their employee meal and we still had not been sat. Ambiance it was okay. The music was nice and it seemed like a well done chain. The food was okay, but I will stick to my regulars going forward. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Nope - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I pass this location daily and decided to pop in one evening, and the hospitality and customer service were top notch from the time I entered until I left. The dumplings and wontons are made fresh and the in plain view of the guests and the restaurant and employees do give permission for you to take photos and videos of the process. There were so many great food options to choose from, but I settled on Pork Belly Bao buns and the Ugly Dumpling Sampler. The sampler came with 1 of each of their soup dumpling varieties (Pork, Chicken, Pork & Crab, Pork & Truffle, Pork, Shrimp & Spinach and Szechuan Pork.) The flavor profile of each dumpling was definitely unique and required no additional dipping sauces at all. But the bao buns stole the show! The pork was crunchy around the edges and soft in the middle. The bun was so soft and moist, I am already planning my next trip back, just for bao buns! read more

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I wanted to try this place because I love dumplings. We started with the fried pork chop and cucumber salad. The pork chop was crispy and flavorful. The cucumber salad was just okay, not quite what I expected. I think it had some kind of peanut sauce, but I'm not completely sure. For my main, I got the sampler which came with one of each: pork, chicken, pork and crab, pork and truffle, and pork, shrimp and spinach. Out of all of them, only the pork and truffle and pork, shrimp and spinach had soup inside. The rest were just a dry filling wrapped in dough, which was ... disappointing. Our waiter was fine and the overall ambience of the restaurant was nice with plenty of seating. She did mention the food is served family style, so it comes out as it's ready. Still, considering all the hype I saw online, the experience was underwhelming. read more

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Walked in on a Thursday night. Parking was not a problem since there's a free parking lot. It was not that busy. Got seated quickly. The interior is modern Asian. Food was served quickly too. Our server Smokey was nice and personable. Brown sugar boba & pork and shrimp shumai were good. Salt and pepper popcorn chicken and Ugly Dumpling soup dumpling sampler were okay. The Ugly Dumpling sampler contains each of the following: pork, chicken, pork & crab, pork & truffle, pork, shrimp & shrimp. Braised beef noodle soup was not bad. Beef was tender but the flavor was not the best. I did not like the shrimp stir fried noodles; despite mixing it well as advised by our server since the sauce settles below, I found the flavor a little weird plus the noodle texture was off - not soggy but when you eat it, it easily turns pulpy. Overall experience is 4/5. read more

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My husband took me out as a pre bday lunch since he has to work on my actual day. From the immediate delicious smell that greets you at the door, the simple yet stylish decor that elegantly represents Chinese culture, the friendly and helpful staff, and the fresh food...... this was a good experience! read more

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My first visit to this restaurant. I was hopeful. First the positive. Our waiter was very pleasant. The Boba tea was really good. The orange chicken was also good and fresh. The cucumber salad was pretty good, but the pieces were cut really big which was a little odd. One family member got the chicken stirfry rice bowl. The other one got the beef stirfry rice bowl. To be honest, both of them were terrible. The chicken was so white it was though it had been boiled. Same with the beef. No char on anything and way under seasoned. Way too many eggs in the fried rice. The rice smelled like scrambled eggs. Just not good. Maybe people come here for the dumplings and that's what we should've gotten. But very disappointed with the rice dishes. read more

Finally made it to the Ugly Dumpling. Delicious food with wonderful service! Our server was great, and patient, as we had a few questions. Best wonton soup, with the perfect broth, and the chicken fried rice we've ever had. And the soy sauce, house made! The chicken dim sum was so tasty! Fried pork chop appetizer is also worth mentioning and trying. Just loved everything about our experience. Pleasant atmosphere and decor as well. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Service ALWAYS takes forever 4 out of 4 visits. More than 15-20 minutes to get an order in. One time I ordered ahead to do takeout and I still waited 30 minuted in the restaurant. This time we got seated but were not warned that our server hasn't even clocked into their shift yet. Not the server's fault. The gentleman who seated us could have given us a warning. Don't come in hungry, you'll be gnawing on the table. If you aren't already aware, Ugly Dumpling tries to replicate Din Tai Fung. If DTF is 10/10 food, Ugly Dumpling is 6/10. Food quality is also variable depending on the day. DTF service (in all the 5 locations I've been in) is 10/10, Ugly Dumpling is a 3/10. Please do not think this is good dim sum, we just don't have good dim sum places in RVA. I go rarely just to scratch an itch (without it being actually satisfying). It's kind of like having the Great Value version of a brand name. read more

Nice ambiance, tasteful decor, beautiful wood tables with rattan seats. This place opens late, until like 10pm. Serves tasteful cocktails like lychee martini and boozy boba. One menu page of food and still enough including variety soup dumplings (Xiao long bao). They offer a 5 dumpling sampler if you're unsure which ones to order. For appetizers, we did the popcorn chicken, cucumber, crispy scallion pancake. Not that long of a wait at 8:50pm, kitchen closed 30 mins prior to close. The ma la spiced dishes like the Xiao long mao and noodles does have kick. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I traveled all the way down to Richmond from NoVA to try out their dumplings. I know they're still working out the kinks with being a new business. I wanted to try The Ugly Dumpling Sampler, but I wasn't able to get it as they didn't have all the ingredients to make the pork and truffle dumpling. It was one of the items I looked forward too. I wasn't able to get the Crystal Shrimp Dumplings either. Dexter, our server, was able to make some recommendations when we weren't able to get what we wanted. We ordered Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, Szechuan Pork Soup Dumplings, Pork and Crab Soup Dumplings, Chicken Soup Dumplings, Pork Shrimp and Spinach Soup Dumplings and Noodles with Sesame Sauce. Dexter really recommended the Szechuan Pork Soup Dumplings and he didn't steer us wrong! That was my favorite dish out of everything. The servers did point out I can look at the production and see the cooks make the dumpling by hand. They cooks were friendly and waved at me when they saw I was peeking in. --Food-- The Noodles with Sesame Sauce was alright. I wish it was more spicy. I'm not one who likes spicy foods and it's good if you can't tolerate spice as much, but I felt like if they stated on the menu that it is spicy, I would expect it to be a little more spicy. I wished I liked the Steamed BBQ Pork Buns more. It was sweet. I just wish there was more filling to enjoy as I didn't get enough of the taste. Again, the Szechuan Pork Soup Dumplings was my favorite. It was nice and savory with the kick of spice. I enjoyed savory taste of the meat with the spice cutting the taste. I would go back just for this dish alone. Pork and Crab Soup Dumplings had the best soup filling in my opinion. It was flavorful and I couldn't get enough of the broth. The Pork Shrimp and Spinach Soup Dumplings has the best texture from all the dumplings I've tried. The filling was nice and bouncy. The Chicken Soup Dumplings are a classic choice. I focused most on the filling ratio and the wrapper with this one. It's not a dumpling that stood out from everything else, but it's a good standard to try first. With all of them, the wrapper and filling ratio was great. The wrapper was wasn't too thin and not thick at all. read more

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A T M O S P H E R E This cute restaurant is in such a prime location! It is easy to get to, accessible and easy to maneuver once inside, and have great lighting that makes everything easy to see, but it's not in your face. S E R V I C E Our server took the time to explain the different type of dumplings to us and how to release the steam from inside them so you don't burn your mouth when you eat them! We tried the Edamame, the Dumplings Sampler, the Chicken Dumplings, the Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, and the Lava Cake. All of which were absolutely delicious! Great experience, great service, great food! We will be back again!! read more

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The dumplings were not bad, but the color of the wrapper seeped through to the filling for some and it didn't look appetizing. The cucumbers were also not bad. Unfortunately, the service was not great. They sat us at a small table that was uncomfortably close to the table next to us and we didn't have anywhere put our handbags, so we asked if we could switch to any other table. They were quite rude about it, but eventually did move us. We considered leaving, but against our better judgement decided to stick it out. After they brought the dumplings and cucumbers, they did not come back until it was time for the check, and they never brought our other entree. There was no apology, they just removed it from our check. :( read more

Food was pretty good and the dumplings were made fresh. You can watch the kitchen staff making the dumplings if you wish. The service was a bit slow though, despite being very nice and accommodating whenever I was able to catch someone. Wouldn't go there if you're in a rush but the food was decent. read more

I'm so excited to have Ugly Dumpling in town! The restaurant is very similar to DTF but much more reasonably priced. They make their own dumplings in house, which you can observe through a glass. The restaurant is approachable for those that aren't familiar with the dishes. There are instructions on how to eat soup dumplings on the table. We tried the soup dumpling sampler, scallion pancake, green tea noodles with spicy sauce, spicy pork & shrimp wontons, and the brown sugar boba. Everything was delicious. The soup dumplings had a lot of broth and flavor in them. I do wish they paired it with a less viscous sauce but I was able to make my own with the sauces on the table. The spicy wontons and green tea noodles came in the same spicy sauce, which had a numbing type of spice/oil. The noodles had a nice chew to them and seemed fresh. The scallion pancake was fried to a perfect crisp. The brown sugar boba was sweet and paired nicely with all the spicy foods. The dishes all came out at the same time within minutes of ordering. If you're particular about your dining cadence, I would space out the ordering. The staff checked on us several times so we were able to get what we needed. Overall, I highly recommend and can't wait to come back and try more! read more

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Food was amazing and the atmosphere was beautiful. The staff was friendly and professional

Wednesday 4/2/25 11:55am Went here for lunch with a friend for her birthday. I read really good reviews about Ugly Dumpling. I really liked the decorations, Asian American modern vibes. After looking at the menu I decided on the soy garlic wings and a side of white rice . My friend ordered the colorful dumplings and some beef and noodles. The waitress was nice. Wings - my wings and rice did not come out together the wings were OK nothing to rant and rave about. The rice was good. Soup Dumpling Sampler - my friend ordered the dumplings, thinking that it also came with soup, but it did not. A little misleading considering the name of the dish is "Soup Dumpling Sampler" with no broth or anything. It was literally just 5 dumplings. Anyway, she said they were good. Because all that came with it were the 5 dumplings she also then ordered some beef noodles. The noodles and beef came, which she also liked, but the serving was pretty small. I asked the waitress if that was a lunch portion and was told no. The waitress said they don't have lunch portions they just have one menu. So it really wasn't worth the money for that reason. Total was $52.09 for 6 wing dings, side of white rice, an order of dumplings, beef & noodles and a bottle of water. I also went to the bathroom before leaving and noticed that 2 of the 3 stalls were VERY tiny. It's very hard to fit in there comfortably. I opened the door and didn't even attempt it, it's that small. While I would consider this a good spot for friends, eating alone or family friendly. I don't think I'll return. So my review of Ugly Dumpling is just another average overpriced restaurant. read more

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Ugly Dumpling is still in its early stages of opening which is reflected in the service and ambience of the restaurant. I tried coming here on a Wednesday evening around 6:00pm and the restaurant was half empty but there was a 1.5 hr wait just to get seated which was odd because there were about 15 servers loitering around the bar area and half the tables were empty. So we left. Came back again on Friday at 4:45pm to be told that the wait was about 45 minutes even when 3/4 of the dining room were empty, and like before, there were about 15 servers loitering around the dining area. We opted to seat at the bar which had no wait time which was a good option for smaller parties. We ordered the 2 dumpling samplers, green tea noodles, spicy wontons & chicken wings (+make it ugly upcharge). The pork/shrimp, chicken and veggie dumplings themselves were well made, and had a good taste to them. The pork/crab and truffle unfortunately didn't taste very good, with the former being too fishy and the latter having an overpowering truffle flavor. The lack of attention to detail from the staff is apparent with half of the dumplings being being tossed into the steamer upside down which ruins the presentation. The green tea noodles were a little underdone and more al-dente like pasta, the spicy wontons had excellent folding technique and texture but the sauce lacked the punch that you get at other restaurants. The wings unfortunately were overcooked, dried and the ugly butter/chili sauce was extremely salty overpowering any flavor that the chili oil had. Pricing was fair for the amount of food that you got with all of this costing around $77 after tax and tip. My biggest gripe with this establishment is the staff. The bar staff were stellar, there were two women who worked non-stop to make all the drink orders and still made time to refill our water and check-in on us. You can also view the staff folding the dumplings in the corner which is unique to the RVA food scene. Our server disappeared after taking our order which was disappointing. The rest of the team gave off the appearance of being overstaffed and underworked with 80% of them loitering around the bar/dining area. I would be okay ordering delivery from this restaurant but I wouldn't want to dine in until they figured out their SOPs. +0 Vibe +0 Taste +1 Presentation +0 Service +1 Value read more

Ugly Dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

After stalking the place for the highly anticipated arrival (Asian food's #1 fan, here) I went on a late night post-gym food run. I was pleasantly surprised... the vegetarian wonton soup had a really good, balanced flavor vegetarian egg fried rice was a solid 8/10. I do wish the restaurant provided more vegan options, but of the veggie items I tasted, they're worth it (plus, I realize the importance of tradition). The service is 10/10 like the atmosphere itself... warm, cozy, inviting. The space is suitable for first date as much as it is for a girls night or the 50th date. Unfortunately for my wallet, it's close to work so I'll be back for more yum! read more

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Came here a few days after it opened to meet a friend for dinner and a catch-up. Pretty good food and good service overall! The inside space is a lot bigger than I had expected, and the booth seating is nice. We shared the Cucumber Salad to start, which was tangy and the right amount of sour vs. spicy, as well as the Scallion Pancakes which were flaky and chewy inside and overall satisfying. The Green Tea Noodles with Sesame Sauce were really unique and tasty, and the noodles had a great chewy but slurpable texture. I was also super excited to see Vegan Wonton Soup, which I can never find anywhere - the version here was hot, flavorful, and the wontons were yummy and stuffed with chopped veggies. Overall I would come back for a casual dinner or get take-out from here. read more

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I have been long awaiting the opening of ugly dumpling and was so excited to finally give it a try! I went in knowing that they had recently opened and that wait times were likely going to be a thing (like 20+ min) so make sure you're aware of this for now if you're looking to try them out! The entry area is a bit confusing since there's a lot going on all at once up there. There's some kind of screen where I'm guessing you can order food to go, there were a bunch of people waiting but it wasn't super clear if they were waiting to be seated or for picking up food and then there's a hostess table which is what you'll want to get to if you're looking to add yourself to the list. We were given the option to sit at the bar right away (full menu) or wait 20 min for a table and we decided to go for the bar. I think this was a mistake looking back, so I'd recommend opting to wait. The long story short is the food was very, very good (and absolutely worth coming back for) but the service was honestly awful. Not a single time did we get proactively helped, not even waters, cutlery, dishware etc., ordering was a pain and some of our orders were missed / forgotten and we had to consistently flag down help. I think some of it is growing pains of being a new restaurant but the staff just seemed really unhappy to be there. Not sure if something had happened that day or if this is normal, but it was noteworthy. In terms of food, we tried the soup dumpling sampler, cucumbers, green beans, pan fried pork buns, spicy beef noodles and fried rice. I would skip the cucumbers and fried rice next time but everything else was really tasty. The star of the meal was a tie between the soup dumplings and the pork buns. Highly recommend both of those. I honestly liked every flavor of the soup dumplings. Was really happy I got the sampler. The decor inside is very upscale and nicer than I expected. I hope next time I come back that the seated dining room experience is better. Not going to lie though even if the service stayed the same, you better believe I'm coming back for the soup dumplings and pan fried pork buns. They're just so phenomenal that I wouldn't miss them!! read more

Ugly Dumpling - Soup dumplings green beans cucumbers - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Oh. My. God! I am so happy. As a huge fan of Din Tai Fung, I'm so happy that Ugly Dumpling is here. We got here at 2:45 pm on a Sunday, 3-4 days after they opened, hoping for a shorter line. No such luck, as we were told it would be an hour wait. No worries, we wandered around until they were ready. The wait was 1 hr 20 minutes. And it was worth every second. Service was amazing. Niyah took really good care of us and a couple of managers stopped by. I was surprised by the multiple touch points to ensure our needs were met. We got the soy garlic wings, ugly style. The pork XLB, the spicy chicken wontons, orange chicken, chicken fried rice and shredded beef stir fried noodles. The spicy chicken wontons were my favorite. And the chicken wings were my husband's favorite. The XLB was amazing too. The orange chicken, fried rice and noodles were good but didn't blow us away like the other items did. But it's probably a personal preference rather than actual quality. I can't wait to come back to try more items. I was actually sad when I got full because I couldn't eat anymore. Definitely come here. Best meal I've had in a while. read more

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Went here for a little date lunch and it was great ! Been on my list for a few months and glad I went. Staff were friendly and we got sat pretty quickly. The food came all at different times which is odd but totally fine. They aren't too pricey for the portions you get - def a two meal kinda place. Will def be coming back to try out more menu items. Great options for vegetarians/vegans as well ! read more

Ugly Dumpling - Vegan Dumplings (6) Vegetable Fried Rice Chicken & Broccoli - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The food was great along with the service. Our waitress was unsure of my food allergy and brought me a allergy menu. She went above and beyond to explain what was in everything. The vibe was very relaxed and chilled, great music and was not overly loud. I would come back to this place again. I enjoyed everything that I ate that day. read more

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Came here for lunch with a friend on a Saturday. We were seated right away and the waitress walked us through the menu and the "experience" which was appreciated since it was our first time dining here. We came for the pork soup dumplings and they were yummy. We also tried the spicy chicken wontons. I would call it a very mild spice which was perfect for me. The green beans were a great way to round out the meal and they were delicious. I'm excited to return and try more menu items. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Pork soup dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

What a great spot for dinner! We were seated quickly even though they were busy. Our waitress was really nice and helped us pick out some items to order since we had never been here before. We ended up getting a few things and everything was great. I loved the spicy chicken dumplings, although they were not very spicy they did have a good flavor. The shrimp fried rice was amazing! It had this fresh and light taste to it that made it really good. The cucumber salad was surprisingly great as well! The cucumbers had this great complex flavor to them that made them really tasty and unique. read more

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Ugly dumpling was truly just alright. The service was friendly and the restaurant was cute, but the food was really lacking in flavor. I will definitely be opting for a local spot over a chain next time I'm craving dumplings. read more

Ugly Dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Richmond, Virginia