Zen Dumpling is a hidden gem in Brandon. I went in with high expectations and they exceeded every single one. The dumplings were perfectly steamed/seared, and you can tell the ingredients are high quality. Beyond the food, the service was attentive and the vibe is so welcoming. It's rare to find a place where every single dish is a hit. 10/10! It was so amazing I forgot to take pictures. read more

Awesome new place around Tampa area. The restaurant is cutely designed. Service is fast, but not much interactions! It is like, a pretty fast food place but with soup dumplings. The dumplings are made inside the window so you can see We ordered soup dumpling, Shanghai style fried dumpling, pan fried pork bun and steamed three fresh dumplings. All good but the steamed dumpling which was a bit tasteless. The small plate, ribs, cucumber salad and stir fried green beans are delicious too. read more

Zen Dumpling - Cucumber salad, stir fried green bean and ribs, tapas small plates - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

All I have to say is wow!! Food was tasty and came out quick. It was busy, (about a hour wait) which is what was expected. It was definitely worth the wait and every penny. Restaurant was very clean and spacious as well. We will definitely be back!! read more

Zen Dumpling - Stir Fried Green Beans, Chili Wontons, & Cucumber Salad. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

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Finally dumplings in Brandon!!!! Amazing dinner (after a 1hr+ wait). The beef pancake rolls were great, super crispy. Service was great even though they were packed. Xlb were amazing and juicy. The menu was a little confusing about the dumplings vs bao dumplings vs baos (or on the menu they call them buns) but they have a photo menu you can scan on the table. The cucumber salad was meh but nothing to complain about. We didn't mean to order the braised pork buns (which ended up being the baos that are like tacos) but they were huge and super tasty! Will be back probably tomorrow hahah read more

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Lunch at Zen Dumplings was a great find! Their signature bao pan-fried dumplings were absolutely amazing--fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Quick service and a great spot for a casual lunch. read more

A terribly disappointing dinner. First, this was the only restaurant I've been to that didn't ask if we needed a child seat for my kid. Second, every time I had food in my mouth, someone came to ask me questions. Third, when I had two boxes of leftovers to take away, they didn't provide a bag. Fourth, while I was still eating, a staff member came and took my food away. Fifth, and most seriously, I suspect the server was racially discriminatory--repeating my words with a skeptical tone and look every time we spoke. I hope the owner and manager see this feedback. One last point: the hostess at the front would be better suited as a model, since she's so good at keeping a cold, expressionless face. read more

Zen Dumpling - Awful dinner. Hostess very racist. No child seat offered. Constantly interrupted while eating. Food taken away prematurely. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

Food was great and our server Gabe did a fabulous job juggling a large amount of tables given to him and still providing great service!

Finally!! Some Xiao Long Bao in Tampa! I've been complaining for years that there wasn't any quality XLB and now there is! The dumplings are delicious - I tried the Chili wontons, Truffle, Pork with Crab, and Chicken XLB. The Chili wontons, Truffle and Crab are the best. Also tried the Shanghai fried dumplings - love the crispy bottoms. The only dish I strongly disliked was their Beef Noodle Soup...the broth was reminiscent of pho? And there wasn't much flavor to it. The beef definitely wasn't braised enough. No spice. Also not sure why there were carrots in there. The noodles weren't bouncy or chewy either. Service is great, quick, helpful, and attentive. The space itself isn't huge but has enough seats and space between so you're not walking sideways. Decor is adorable! Would recommend going here under one condition: Eat the dumplings, skip the noodles. Definitely coming back for the XLB! read more

My wife teaches at a local college & some of her students recommended this place. Amazing! I had the Chicken Fried Rice & even though they use large pieces of chicken (In prefer it cut up) it was so good I could barely stop eating when I got full. (Hat tip - portions here are huuuge). My wife had Chicken Soup Dumplings & Braised Pork Belly Soup. We'll be eating leftovers for 3 days. LOL. The best part was the appetizer, Stir Fried Green Beans. Simply the best. 5-stars read more

Zen Dumpling - Stir Fried Green Beans & Braised Pork Belly Noodle Soup - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

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The place is clean and the service is fast. This was my first time coming. I definitely recommend the green beans and the spicy chili wontons to start with. Our waiter Adriano was was very nice and attentive. Will come back read more

Food was amazing tried the bao pork buns the steam pork dumplings and fried chicken. The ambiance speaks for itself nice lighting very quiet and peaceful very much zen and the service was very fast the waiter gave recommendations and kept checking to see what I needed and if I'm enjoying the recommendations I will def be back again. read more

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Jess was a phenomenal server, so nice and fast! The food was delish as always and all in all will be back!

We love Zen. Always fresh and delicious. Soup dumplings are to die for!!! Tristan is the best server ever and made our time at Zen an excellent experience! read more

First time here. Food was fresh and served quickly. Enjoyed mini Bao, shrimp and pork soup dumplings, scallion pancakes and the Zha Jiang noodles. All were really good. The surprise was the noodle dish. We weren't sure about it but our server Jess was super helpful. We will be back. Hopefully we get Jess as our server next time! read more

Very clean place 1st time, very good food Staff was great at explaining as we had no idea what to order Highly recommend read more

Zen Dumpling is amazing. It was our first time and Rose our server was amazing at explaining all of the options and how it all worked. The food was delicious. We will be coming back. read more

Absolutely delicious! All 3 items I had were delicious. Best stir fry I have found in a long time! I Can't wait to go back to try more options! read more

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Third review on Yelp. Ambiance...nice & clean. Sorry no pictures of the inside. You going to have to trust me. Service...I can see 6-7 server, which is plenty for the size of the dining area. Server said food will come out fast, after we turn in our order; he was right. So far so good. Only negative was I had to flag down the waiter for napkins 5 mins after receiving appetizer & soup. Food...got 5 items on the menu: Spicy Cucumber Salad, Hot & Sour Soup, Steam Shrimp & Pork Dumplings, Signature XLB (Soup Dumplings) Sampler, & Mongolian Beef. Here is the low down. Spicy Cucumber Salad...my wife likes it; I thought it was on the bland side, but I can eat very spicy food. For me it had a hint of heat. Texture & quality was good. Hot & Sour Soup...my wife liked. My thoughts...quality & price is about right. Steam Shrimp & Pork Dumplings (6)...normal quality Dim Sum. Needs a dipping sauce; not enough flavor to eat it plain. All there was at the table was Soy Sauce & Black Vinegar. $11.50 for (6). Signature XLB (Soup Dumplings) Sampler (6)...presentation in a bamboo steamer was nice. Had 6 different Soup Dumplings in different colors. My first time having Soup Dumplings; it was okies. Given the price $15.95 (6), I wish there was 2 of each so my wife & I can try out each of them. Mongolian Beef...My favorite of the 5 items I ordered. It was good & they put a garnish of a flower on top for presentation. It was not necessary & my picture of it does not give it justice. There is more meat than you see in the picture, under the flower & lots of onion. Final thoughts...Hot & Sour Soup & entrees, which they only had 3 of on the menu, is about right for a Chinese restaurant. Their "bread & butter"...Soup Dumplings & other dim sums...I wish the price could have been a little lower. My 3 stars weighed heavily on pricing of the foods vs. ratio of quality & quantity. read more

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absolutely amazing the food and the drinks were so yummy and full of flavor. I will be coming back! i got the soup chicken dumplings, the beef pan fried dumplings, general toss chicken and chicken fried rice! my server was mason and he did a great job and was quick! thank you read more

Amazing FOOD!! You know everything was freshly made. There can be a wait depending on the time you come, but well worth the wait. We loved the Orlando location and this was just as good. Great job owners!! We will be back and highly recommend. Ambiance and service are really good too. Dumpling, soup dumplings, noodles with broccoli & steak!! Sooooo gooood!!!! read more

I've been to this place twice now. Once when it first opened and again just recently and I can honestly say the food is really good! The first time, it took about an hour to get our food, but I wasn't upset about it since they had just opened. When I went back a few days ago, everything was much smoother, and the food was just as delicious. I definitely recommend giving it a try. I will diffidently be back! read more

Zen Dumpling - Amazing dumplings. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

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The food was awesome! The beef scallion pancake was delicious-- just the perfect balance between sweet and savory. Also got the chicken pan fried dumplings, the pork soup dumplings and the General Tso's chicken. 10s across the board! The vibe is great, with the rattan lights, cool lighting and nice bar area. Our server, Jonas was great! read more

Everything is fresh and delicious! Jess was great. Very caring and very patient with our 2yr old. Great service. Great food.

Our new favorite spot! Been here twice and everything we've tried has been delicious: Braised pork bun, sweet&sour baby rib, fried rice, Braised pork belly noodle soup and the green beans are INSANE, I crave them all the time now. Ambiance is so cute in here and even the food runners and bussers are extremely sweet. Shout out to our server Jess who steered us in the right direction and helped us order. We were so excited to eat we didn't get a pic this time but here's one from last time! read more

Zen Dumpling - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

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WOWOWOWOWOWWOOOOOOW!!! BRUHHHH THIS PLACE IS STRAIGHT-UP BOMBBBBB!!! 10s across the board. I am so glad Brandon finally has Zen Dumpling! First off--interior? GORGEOUS. Clean, warm, cozy... the kind of place you instantly feel at home in. Service? My mom and I had the most AMAZING server (young, blond hair, blue/green eyes--sir, if you're reading this, you're the GOAT ). He walked us through the menu, checked in the whole time, and was just so genuinely kind. The vibes? Immaculate. Now... the food. BBBRRRUUUHHHHH. The best meal I've had in a long time. Every dish was absolute perfection--timed so well that each one came out fresh, hot, and ready to devour. * Spicy cucumber salad DELISH & refreshing. I was thinking about it all day. * The ribs Cooked and seasoned to pure perfection. * Wontons 10/10, no notes. * Fried rice Don't even get me started... * Soup dumplings The main characters. I literally can't put into words how incredible they are. I was drooling just writing this part. Flavor? IMPECCABLE. Only "downside"? It's a little on the pricier side, which is dangerous because I want to eat here EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Totally worth it, though. Anyway... brb, leaving my house to go back. read more

The food is always great and Vivian was awesome!! checked in us regularly and did a great job!!

The soup dumplings were beautiful and full of soup. Though there were supposed to be different flavors, it seemed they were pretty much the same. The Kaarage chicken was juicy and flavorful. I would have liked a bit of spicy mayo on the side for dipping. The scallion pancake was okay, and the gyoza were good, though would have liked a dipping sauce, not just soy sauce. Service was good. read more

Amazing service by Andy! My first time there and he gave us his recommendations! Dumplings were delicious! We know what to try next time! Will definitely spread the word read more

I saw this restaurant on TikTok and had to try it since our whole family is a sucker for Asian cuisine. Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint! The service, selection, and food was great. I think we ordered every dumpling you can get lol. We had to try it all. We lived their soups, noodle, and rice dishes as well. Can't wait to go back! read more

A group of four of us came here on a Saturday night, the wait was around an hour. Small waiting area inside, so we stood outside. Once we were sat, service was quick and food came out even quicker. They serve every dish as it comes, since they do not have heat lamps. We ordered a variety to split, which was a great way to sample a large part of the menu. The soup dumplings and green beans were the highlight. The mango green tea was also amazing! read more

Zen Dumpling - Cucumber salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

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What used to be a Hawaiian poke bowl place is now a Chinese place. We were surprised to see this as we wanted to try the poke place but too late. Anyway what a great find! Zen Dumpling, as it is now named is a jewel hiding in the AMC Regency Plaza on Rt 60 at I-75. Busy on a Saturday afternoon, Xmas shoppers, including us, it was a short wait for a booth, staff was super nice. Once seated a menu on a slip of paper is placed on your table with a pen. Didn't take long to figure out it was a you choose what you want, mark up the slip and a waitress comes by and picks it up. We had quite @ few questions (first timers) and she was happy to answer all our questions. Wasn't long before the food showed up, Mongolian Beef with white rice and Vegetable noodles. It was piping hot and delicious! Very well made. The vibe here is causal and cool, we liked it a lot and will definitely come back to try more dishes. read more

Zen Dumpling - Vegetable noodles and Mongolian beef...yummy - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

Alyssa was a great server who delivered amazing quick service. I ordered the Mongolian beef when the restaurant was moderately busy and it came out fast and hot by the way the Mongolian beef was a 10/10. The restaurant itself is also very aesthetic clean and modern and the tunes were top tier . I had a great dining experience and will definitely return and ask for Alyssa! read more

Zen Dumpling - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida

Sienna was amazing!!! She provided quick and efficient service and was really helpful when it came to ordering! I have a few allergies but her knowledge of the menu made it easy to decide what to order! The food was delicious- I really enjoyed the beef pan fried dumplings, the cucumber salad and the chicken and mushroom dumplings!! I have dined here a few times since this location opened, but the experience with Sienna was particularly noteworthy! read more

Food was amazing and our server Rose was incredible. Good value for the food served too. Very clean and nice inside as well. read more

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My son and I came all the way from Tampa to try this new Dumpling restaurant , it was packed and we had to wait over 20mn. The service was good, our waitress took care of us very good. The food was just okay, chili oil dumpling sauce wasn't spicy tastes kinda flat and the dumpling was soggy, hot sour soup was good but little too salty, braised beef noodle wasn't that good, the broth was blend, and all Xiao long bao skin was thick and soggy. We may come back next time we have guests. read more

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Zen Dumpling is a great addition to the Brandon area. They offer great sharing platter for families and friends. I would say for individuals, it will be more expensive to eat a variety of food than eating with others.I had their stir fried green beans and a few of the dumpling options which I all absolutely loved besides one. The service was great, they explained the menu well and how to use the sauces offered at the table. The ambience is impeccable with thought out table settings and aesthetic decor. For sure am impressed. read more

Greg was accommodating, and frequently stopped by to make sure our table was good, this is good sense of urgency, on top of that, the food was really good, everything was flavorful and consistent. Ambience is fitting too, love the presentation with food and decor. Will return. read more

HAYDEN WAS AWESOME! Very attentive, and informative. The food was great, the atmosphere was calm but the combination of the great service made it even more worth it! Thank you. I'd definitely recommend! read more

FINALLY!! Fantastic, *real* soup dumplings have hit the Tampa Bay Area. I've tried a few places that claim to have soup dumplings, but always leave disappointed. Zen dumpling was the complete opposite! Hands down some of the best soup dumplings I've had in general, right up there with my favorite spots in NYC. We ordered the truffle pork, crab and pork, and the beef dumplings. Each one has a unique flavor and came out piping hot with a good amount of broth inside. My favorite had to be the truffle pork. It was not too heavy on the truffle, but nonetheless delightful. We also tried the stir fried noodles which were good, a lo mein type dish. The sweet and sour baby ribs were great as well, very tender. Great speedy service, cool modern vibes, and insanely good soup dumplings means I will surely be back soon read more

Food was decent. pork soup dumplings the best but other items were just ok or overcooked. Service was very disappointing from Adriano (sp)? We told him this was our 1st time to this restaurant not knowing quantity and portion size, he took advantage of that to make us over order to increase his tip. Truly disappointed to be taken advantage of. For that I would NOT recommend zen dumpling at Brandon blvd. read more

Zen Dumpling - Restaurant in plaza - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brandon, Florida