Reviews

The Dumpling Inn just moved into a much bigger space in the same stripmall as the original restaurant. There is a Shanghai Noon bar and its much trendier. The food is about the same. I had the Xiao long Bao which was OK however they did not have the proper dark vinegar for it. The spicy beef noodle was OK too. It was slighlty spicy. Overall not a bad place for a quick snack but its not much better than the low standard of Chinese food in San Diego

This place is small, sits about 30 people. The food is delicious, I had about 1/3 of the items in their generous menu and I liked all the items. Their soups, dumplings and dishes like calamari, are great. The customers are treated well and promptly, BUT the wait is often 20-30 min AND it is outside and under the sun at noon. This place could use a canopy to provide shade outside.

The Dumplin Inn is very popular and there is always a line to get in. They do serve food fast so the turnover is pretty fast also. The food is focused on dumplings and noodles but they do have main course type dishes too. The food is pretty good but not spectacular. The decor inside is a bit funking and does not look like a normal chinese restaurant.

Service was very quick - to the point the waiter was just standing and staring at the tables waiting to ask a question or clear the table (felt a little rushed). The soup dumplings were good and the orange chicken was very flavorful.

Although we live 15 miles south of the area and there are other Chinese restaurants closer to us, whenever my family and I have a yen (bad pun, sorry) for very good homestyle Chinese cooking, we end up at the DUMPLING INN. My personal favorites are the boiled pork and chive dumplings, steamed gai lan (Chinese broccoli), and the oven baked garlic sea bass. An order of 10 dumplings, a lunch-size of gail lan, and a dinner portion of the anything are more than enough for my husband and me. I would like to dispel some INACCURACIES in a number of reviews, however. #1 THERE IS ALWAYS A LONG WAIT. We eat our main meal at midday--between 2:00 and 3:00 PM and on weekdays usually get a table immediately. If we come earlier, depending on how close to 12:00 noon it is, the wait can be from 20 to 60 minutes. Weekends can be different as more people eat lunch later. #2 THERE ARE NO DIPPING SAUCES. There are three cruets on the table (vinegar, sesame oil, and soy sauce), one covered dish of chopped chiles--very spicy, and some small bowls. You are supposed to mix your own. #3 THERE IS A "LIMITED" DESSERT MENU. There is NO dessert menu. If you want something sweet afterward, buy some cookies at the Jasmine bakery across the parking lot or some tropical fruit at the store a few doors away. #4 THERE IS NO RESTROOM. There is a combination WC, wash basin and utility room--unisex. Walk through the door leading to the kitchen, ignoring the sign "NOTICE Employees Only, to the back. The door to the left (unmarked) is the place. It is clean, has soap, paper, and paper towels. ABOVE ALL, ENJOY! The Dumpling Inn is a real treasure!

This popular restaurant is famous for its "Dumplings". Always packed, expecting a long waiting line if at weekends. Service was quick and cordial, waiter/waitress was friendly. The price of foods/dishes was mostly modest. I like their steamed pork buns and pork pot sticker. Hot & sour soup was a little too “sour”. Kung Pao Seafood, not prepared traditionally, don’t like it.

I don't even like Chinese food but this place has me coming back every week! Pork dumplings.. Pan seared are to die for! My fav is Chinese hand made sausage fried rice! I can't describe how delicious it is!! Spicey Kung pao chicken fantastic! Order cucumber salad for something refreshing! Full bar plus great service makes Dumpling Inn my go to place!

After reading review, we decided to try Dumpling inn. We arrived at 5 pm during weekdays. We wait for 2 hours to get a table! Like other reviewers mentioned, they only have 10 tables so waiting time does not necessary reflected on the food. During the wait, we found out that you can call them ahead so they put you on the waiting queue. Do call them if you want to go there! We ordered dumplings and noodle soup. The dumplings are OK (not great) .. The noodle soup is so so, maybe a bit too much MSG too. I might have ordered wrong things Price is reasonable. However, it will be a while before i tried it again for other food.

I always make a point to visit this place whenever I come to San Diego. I mostly just fill up on different types of dumplings, but other dishes are well-prepared and tasty. Overall, definitely fantastic food, but I definitely recommend trying this place during an "off" time of day to avoid a long wait outside.

Dumpling Inn moved not so long ago (same parking lot) into a much bigger facility, and necessarily so! The food is delicious and is not typical American-style Chinese cuisine. It matches much of what I've had in China and makes me long to return!

I lost appetizer due to the wet hands of the waiter. I felt like he touched dirty dishes then brought out my plates. Food was just ok

We decided to grab a quick drink prior to our foot & neck reflexology massages...(spa in same ctr. is a really good one) served our party of 4 well as we truly felt fully relaxed👌🏼 (back to Dumpling Inn) Their "sasaki sangria" with peaches & strawberries is special!!! Smooth! Refreshing! Goes down easy all the while it sneaks up & grabs one when you least expect it! Great recipe to fall asleep while your being massaged into la la land!😌 Service: Good! Bartender broke down the "sasaki sangria" recipe...will try to give it a shot at home. Never thought this concoction would work, not only does it work its now my favorite type of sangria! YUM! Looking forward to returning in hopes of trying out some of their dumplings.

We came here as a group, so we came early to nab a table before it got too busy. The concierge allows someone in the group to put their name in even if not everyone is present (yet). We started with a round of water, which was great because it was a hot summer day, just ending, outside. One in our party ordered a beer, and it went onto a separate tab that he paid for, so it's better if everyone orders together, shares all of the dishes, and splits the cost, rather than people ordering individual entrees. The server took an initial order, then, as more of our party came, we ordered more food, and she put the orders in as they came, so that our food was not delayed because of some notion that they have to serve everything at the same time. The only disadvantage with this restaurant's location is that the shopping center in which it's situated is very busy, with a full parking lot from the word go. Jasmine, another Chinese restaurant nearby, also shares the parking lot, so it's not unusual to see cars circling, after letting out passengers, to look for parking. We ended up parking around the corner on another street. Since it was after 6 pm, the short-term parking spaces were open for us to leave our car there for as long as we needed, at least as long as we needed to eat dinner! There is nothing remarkable about the food, but what is nice is that it's easy to share, since the dumpling plates come with about ten dumplings, so if the group is the right size, or if certain people want to have more than one of something, it works out well. We will probably come back at some point when we're in the mood for dumplings. For nine of us, it came to about $12 per person, for 4 dumpling platters, 3 entrees, one side item, and one small soup.

Several great places all on one mall: Dumpling Inn, Happy Buddah (a foot massage joint), and Kula sushi (a revolving sushi bar). This review will be specifically on Dumpling Inn. This restaurant serves delicious, well-priced food that the family will enjoy. Of course, they are known for their xiao lung bao--a dumpling with just enough broth to make your tastebuds sing!!! The fried dumplings are awesome too. We tend to order the orange chicken which is more chicken then breading and sauce---nice touch here! Also, the diced cashew chicken is on my regular rotation too! I have had the fish, eggplant with pork, and kung pao and all of that is great too. My other recommendation is to order the 3 ingredient pan fried noodles--you can sub calamari for shrimp if that suits your fancy....eat here! you will not regret it! TIP: do not let the lack of parking here deter you....it can be a bit crazy.

If you ask the server to omit any spices, as one in our party did, you will get some very passable but bland food, and the condiments and such on the table won't help. Finicky eaters should ask for at least a mild flavoring to their food. The dumplings are very good as are the sea bass and calamari.

This is the best chinese restaurant I have ever eaten at. And, it's not the typical egg roll/chow main/sweet and sour sauce restaurant. If you want authentic chinese food (you have to try the black bean sauce sea bass) and the most fantastic offering of dumplings, this is the place to go. Definitely worth the wait..

Visited after reading such good reviews. Was a bit worried when we ended up in a Korean strip mall. However, tucked away in a corner was the small but incredible Dumpling Inn. We had a brief wait. My 7th grader loved the steamed dumplings/pot stickers. Husband loved his Chinese dish. All ingredients were fresh and high quality. Service was fast and professional. Not a lot of chit chat or fancy setting. Just good service, great food, and affordable.

We went specifically for the xiao lung bao. They were good. They could have more soup but the flavor was great. Unfortunately, the other dumpling we ordered (shrimp and chive) was just ok. The flavor was ok but you couldnʻt tell there was shrimp. Notes: Parking is terrible. We were seated without issue. Service was ok (donʻt expect a lot of friendliness, though). The restaurant is indeed dark and has a throw back feel to the decor.

Went to Dumpling Inn as our first choice when we reached San Diego. We were so excited to see what all the fuss and good reviews are about! Unfortunately, we forgot that a Chinese restaurant in America with good reviews meant that they have modify its taste to suit the Western tongues and taste. To us- the Asian or Chinese tongues, all the food were blend! We had to put a looot of chili oil and soy sauce :( Mediocre at its best! Pot stickers that won sooo many awards was barely pan fried (wasn't even golden or brown), the xiao long bao wasn't as juicy as reviews were saying and the skin was the thickest i've had. The only decent dish was the Chinese sausage fried rice- obviously thanks to the Chinese sausage! Don't get me wrong- this restaurant might fit Western taste well, but Asian people.. Don't ruin your taste buds.

Located in a strip mall, the ambiance is non-existent and the wait for a table can be long. The service is spotty at best and you must bring your own alcohol. So why bother? Because virtually all of the food is delicious. They are known for their dumplings (all types are great but try "soup dumplings" for something different-but eat as soon as they are served for best experience because they dry out.) if you have a large party, you can call ahead and request to have your name put on the wait list before you arrive (this only works on occasion) but otherwise consider dining very early to avoid the crowd.

It's worth the wait to at least try this place one time. If you like dumplings, and are in San Diego, this is the place to go. There will be a wait, but we enjoyed bringing our own beer from the market next door.

We stopped to grab a quick lunch prior to a foot massage at our favorite place (see review of Happy Buddha). I have to say that i was a bit disappointed with the food served (I had high expectations based on the reviews). I had a vegetarian soup which was pretty tasteless and we also shared sauteed greens which were on the too oily side sorry to say.

Yum yum and more yum! Cold Sake, full bar- great service and fabulously authentic food!! Handmade dumplings, the Chinese sausage fried rice is divine! Oodles of noodles- the pork and long green beans so good! Lamb and scallions..! Casual eatery in busy strip mall but absolutely delicious!!!

I ve lived in San Diego for 17 years. I descovered Dumpling Inn in Kerny Mesa when my client took me there. It was love at first site. Small, home-style dining room with sparkly glasses and white linens. It's garliky-ginger- spices aroma will make your mouth water. After my first time I started coming regularly often before or after lunch time and enjoyed company of chef and staff manching on own food sitting together at large round table, smaking and talking glancing periodicly on my table to see if I need anyting. And I am in haven inhaling Sredded Pork in Plum sauce, Chives and shrimp dumplings washing it down with superb Spinach soup I call it Welvet, Silk and Cotton combo. The velvet of rich red sauce for pork, silk of the shell in dumpling and cotton white fabulouse steamed rice. Wait staff is no noncence seriously buisy, there is no fake TJI Friday I- hate you -smiles, but food always come pretty fast, it is hot like love making on summer night and spicy like comedian talk. I tryed almost all the dishes and they are fantastic. I ve read some of the reviews: dining room is small --so they keep it in the family and wont loose their signature tastes. They work till 8 pm only: they are real people with real life: they have to go home to their children. My mom used to say: to be healthy please, eat food that made with love. If you want to try food made by hard working hands, loving hearts please, be pasitive: sometimes long wait is worth it. Have a taste of success, love and devotion, have a taste of an American Dream.

We just came home from Taiwan and were craving dim sum. This place was highly recommended by a chef, so off we went. Ordered steamed pork dumplings, steamed shrimp dumplings, and beef noodle soup. All tasted authentic and the beef noodle soup, while a tad salty, had lots of tender beef in it. It is a LARGE serving and we took the rest home. The service is average. The place is packed but we were able to be seated without waiting. Want to try the panfried dumplings next time.

i brought family(not adventurous) and we had : kung pao chicken, black bean chicken, garlic shrimp, and orange chicken black bean chicken very good(not amazing, i wish it had asparagus), kung pao also very good but not great, garlic shrimp, good, nothing more, and orange chicken very crispy but lacked a little spice and too much orange. service: fine cost: dinner dishes range from about $10.50-15 bottom line- i guess i had very high expectations and I have eaten at some greta places in SF and i didnt try the dumplings so my experience left me slightl dissapointed but i was still very happy and will def return to try the dumplings. My tip: this place is TINY!! = long wait. they close at 8:30, get there in time to put your name on clipboard, before the cut off (usually around 8-820 depending on how busy).

Quaint little restaurant tucked away in a corner. Great menu and great taste. Fresh food, always a line, you have to wait 15-20 minutes to get a table. Great staff, great Chef. They work like clockwork. Never been disappointed. Try the dumpling dishes, or the noodles. MMMmmm

Seriously, i don't even know how everyone raves about their soup dumplings here. I was highly disappointed. My bf and I came here and waited an hour on a Sat night. And we can definitely say that the one hour wait was NOT worth the wait. The soup dumplings had no soup in it. The skin on the dumplings stick to each other and then tear open so you lose all the soup inside. I would not come back here ever again for soup dumplings.

Been to the famous dumpling /Xiao long bao place in Shanghai China & this is pretty authentic for being in US; the home made noodles were also good

This was in a very Chinese neighborhood. All of the businesses around it were Chinese. Many of the patrons at the restaurant were Asian. The restaurant came very highly recommended. I really thought it was just okay. The food was good but no better than any basic Chinese food restaurant. Service was good.

I tried its dumpling soup and fried rice. They are very good. I donot like chow mien and vegetable dishes(too oily). It is very hard to find parking spaces I usually park on a street few blocks away

Shanghai style Dim Sum (not traditional Cantonese which most of us are use too) - For example their Bao - are not the traditional steamed or baked bun filled with meat - instead these have meat filling and hot broth in a thin steamed dough shell (see photo). I would suggest that you eat these with the broad spoons so you don't lose any of the soup which you will if you try to eat them with chop sticks. Their Silver Strand Bun is basically the bao bread that most of us are used to in Cantonese style dim sum, but without the filling. The parking for this plaza sucks,, so allow plenty of time to park and walk (there is a paid lot next door - although it seems wrong to have to pay for parking in a strip mall that isn't downtown) there is a fair amount of free street parking, but you may have to walk a fair distance.

This place is always busy! Seating at the bar is an option to avoid the wait. We ordered orange chicken and fried rice, which were fresh and good. I had higher expectations for their pork and chive dumplings, wrapper was too thick although filling had good flavor. Their Wonton soup was disappointing. Overall, an expensive meal for OK Chinese food.

The very popular Dumpling Inn (Convoy Street area) has been expanded to serve more patrons who flock here to enjoy their delicious food :)) must try dishes include their delightful xiao long bao soup dumplings (eat these immediately with the wide spoon that’s provided, so as to not spill any of the yummy, hot broth inside; add soy sauce, sesame oil, and/or vinegar to suit your tastes), the walnut shrimp (large portions served), and their homemade, wide rice noodles (stir fried with your choice is seafood, chicken, etc). Service is friendly & prompt :)). Perhaps the only drawback is finding parking nearby (there’s a $5 pay lot if you’re unable to locate a free spot). Enjoy a great Chinese restaurant in the lovely city of San Diego :)))

Been here a few times. By far my favorite dish is the salt and pepper calamari. I have tried the vegetarian dumplings a couple times and both times I was disappointed as they were tasteless. Very much enjoyed the spicy eggplant. Since moving from their former location I agree with some other reviews that the portion size has decreased.

My wife & I arrived at 5:45 p.m. on a Thr. and had to wait outside for 30 minutes. Worth it for me, not for my wife. Her lamb in Chinese vegetables was as good as any Chinese dish I have ever eaten and I have eaten a lot. I found the veggie dumplings OK, my wife rated them good. My deluxe soup was huge, filled with noodles, mushrooms and a large variety and quantity of meats. Not spicy but very, very good. Waitstaff has to work hard but are efficient and friendly. Only 38 chairs in this tiny restaurant. We come from the Washington/Baltimore area were the Chinese restaurants are almost all pretty much the same. I find the huge variety of Asian restaurants on Convoy Street in San Diego an extra special treat. This is another, for us, unique restaurant.

We especially loved the vegetable dumplings. Very fresh and light. A great authentic place for Chinese weekend lunch.

Soup dumplings can be so hard to find, they have delicious soup dumplings here. I also tried the green bean fish with black bean sauce, it was good and the portion was huge. 2 people could have shared it. Good service too. Parking is tough, but that is the nature of the area.

My husband and I went there last night expecting it to be the same teensy little "hole-in-the-wall" with excellent Chinese food we had been frequenting for the last 20 years, kitty-corner to the Korean Market. It felt like we were stepping into another plane of existence as we walked into that building that once housed the market but now had "Dumpling Inn" signage.over the entrance. We were unsure that we were in the right place! But the young woman at the hostess station assured us it was really Dumpling Inn; they had moved from their itsy-bitsy location into the massive building. It was a Dream Come True! Very nice ambiance, much more seating, same menu and same cook that they've had for the last ten years. And a full bar. We shared a green bean bass with cucumber salad and an order of chive dumplings. Exquisite! The green beans were crunchy without being under-cooked, perfect. The fish melted in the mouth. Those dumplings were just as we remembered, although maybe better because we were now able to wash them down with a couple of tasty craft beers from their full bar (yay - they got a liquor license!) at Happy Hour pricing. Our favorite waitress/hostess, Tina, is no longer with them; she has finally retired after many years of good and faithful service. So we did miss her sweet face and happy greeting, "Hello Mark and Pat!" She certainly deserves some time with her grandkids! We will definitely be back, and we'll be bringing our ravenous friends. Note to management: It looks like a great location for Karaoke Mondays, maybe, right there in the Shanghai Saloon area. Just sayin'... For more of my reviews on Fun Places to Be in San Diego and Around the World, visit my blog called "World Traveler Reviews."

Many dumplings are 10 for $8. They've also got a full menu of traditional Chinese food/soups beyond the dumplings. Everything tasted fresh. If you don't want to wait for a table, there is a center bar with about 25 seat-stools and several TVs with sports shows. Service was reasonably fast and attentive. The decor is definitely Chinese, and comfortable.

This is such a great spot for Chinese...yes they have awesome dumplings but the whole menu is really top notch. They have a full service bar, which is not typical for this type of restaurant but much appreciated.

Ordered 50 dumplings between 5 of us and managed to finish it all! Delicious! Very filling. Although small place and had to wait for some time in the queue. Worth the wait though, and pricing was alright. Our bill came to $99. Atmosphere was busy/low key/cosy.

This restaurant is the first one I think about when I think of Chinese food in San Diego. Everything is awesome here. Get their pan fried dumplings and pan fried noodles. I have also had their kung pao chicken and orange chicken (this is a pleasant suprise because it is not breaded and the chicken was very moist). The best thing to do would be go next door and get a foot massage at Happy Buddha and then come to Dumpling Inn for some fantastic food! Everything is priced reasonably; I wouldn't be suprised if it's crowded. Try to go early for dinner. You will not be sorry!

I did not expect this place to be this good. Primarily because the word is that Asian food in America just is not like it is back in the old country, whichever country that may be. Here I found the presentation and the food to be very much like what I have enjoyed in China. The serving staff was of Asian descent and very cheerful attentive servers. Thoroughly enjoyable.

My little local friend took me for lunch here . A good size restaurent with western bar like atmosphere with open kitchen . Wait staff was ok . Menu featured many types of dumplings and cantonses and shanghai food . Seating is spacious and comfortable . Soup dumpling was good ( can improved , a few got broken ) pan fried dumpling decent , pan fried noodle not so good. , the noodle not the right type for this dish vegertable with garlic may be the best dish. Price is reasonable , 40 dollars for three os us . Fun place to be back. The San Diego Asian cuisine seems on a upswing , many other eatery on this stretch of Convoy street

Went here for a business luncheon and the food was amazing. Nice atmosphere. Staff is friendly. Very clean restaurant. Can't wait to bring my family here!

Our order: - Xiao Long Bao - very good - Pork & Chive Dumpling - Very good - 3-ingredient Spicy Noodle Soup - not recommended. Bland soup base. - Pork Potstickers - recommended - Side of Spicy Sechzuan sauce for $1.00 - highly recommended.. but i'd say it's mild to medium in spice level but it does give a nice garlic, onion and spice kick to your meal. - 2 Sodas Total 46.xx plus tip I would return here again.

This is our favorite Chinese restaurant in San Diego County. We have eaten here a dozen times, sampled numerous items (recommend Orange Chicken and Honey Glazed Shrimp). The food is always xlnt, the service swift, and the prices very modest. It is BYOB, so we always bring beer or wine. The location is unprepossessing (small Korean strip center), but the interior ambience is well done-(mirrors and Chinese artifacts), although very small. So that is why many times there is a wait, so try for early or late lunch.

Dumplings are pretty good. Wait for a table can take a while.

Went for dinner the first time with family. We ordered a selection of plates including: beef curry dumplings, hot oil pork dumplings, xiao long bao, pot stickers, orange chicken, sausage fried rice honey glazed shrimp, and chow san shin. This didn't even dent he menu choices.The choices include: soups, fried rice, home made dumplings, lo mein, chow mein, rice, and cold side dishes. All dishes were tasty and ample for a group. Only issue is that as the crowd grows, the noise level increases. They need some ceiling noise suppression tiles.

Sandy the owner just could not understand that good customer service is what leads to a successful long lasting business. The place has this big plush lounge area to relax with my buds and have several rounds of beers.....Until three employees sternly told me the area is closed in a Librarian style. I figured I would be able to talk some sense with Management. No success, Sandy said they are slow and do not have a server for the area (plenty of staff to give instructions), l had no issue getting drinks at the bar. No way, Not allowed...rather have less business and have forever ex customer poking his phone giving a one star on Yelp. I expect the dissatisfaction will grow exponentially!! So sad.

This literally hole-in-the-wall place is amazing when it comes to dumplings and Chinese food. Probably one of the best in SD. The moment you walk through the door, you'd be transported to China due to the loud noise, no frill atmosphere and sharing a round family style table with not just your own family but some others. This is a "wham-bam-thank-you-madame-eat-and-get-out" kinda place. You get the point. On to more important thing: their food. It's sad that San Diego does not have amazing Chinese food. This place is excellent compared to others around it. Price is decent, not the cheapest. Try their xiao long bao. It's what they're known for. I'll definitely come back. In fact, I'll be picking up xiao long bao take out from them shortly. They have a sister restaurant that serve similar food but more ritzy in Del Mar for twice as much called rendezvous. You'll get your ambience there ;)

Authentic Chinese food, wonderful service, fantastic food! Went there for my birthday dinner, so happy with everything ☺

The food was delicious and the servers were very helpful with our complicated food rules. Decent vegetarian options as well!

This restaurant is located near its more famous competitor, Jasmine, and it deserves more attention from the public. The dumplings are very tasty and very authentically made, and the service is excellent. The staff was uniformly friendly and spoke excellent English. Finally, the restaurant was a terrific value, probably about half the cost of similar quality dumplings at Jasmine. Please try this restaurant!

One of the best things about living on the West Coast is a wide assortment of Asian restaurants of all types. However, quantity isn't always a good thing. For every awesome place like Shanghai Saloon I've tried, I've dined at 4 places that can be ranked as mediocre at best. If noodles and dumplings are your thing, this is a good place to try. People rave about the Xiao Long Bao and each time I've had it, it has been different. Sometimes they are very soupy, other times, not so much. Parking is a mess, as most places on Convoy failed to consider that people actually need to drive to these locations.

Curry Dumplings and Garlic Noodles..What more can you ask for. A little small inside which makes a little of a wait but definitely worth the it.

Small place, have to wait a bit to be seated, but worth the wait.

The Dumpling Inn has been our "go to" Chinese place for years. This was our first time at their new and improved location. Food was great as always and good service. I definitely disagree with the reviews stating food tasteless. Ours was perfect. Their fried dumplings are the best I have had in San Diego. The special Chow being could have used a little more meat and shrimp but still very tasty.

Visited here for dumpling appetizers with the family. Had heard a lot about this place but never visited. The new location is co-located with a place called Shanghai Saloon that served drinks with about 30 craft beers on tap, mostly from San Diego. (The Shanghai Saloon section also serves appetizers and you need to be 21 to go to this section of the restaurant. Though beers can be purchased into the Dumpling Inn section.) We ordered 4 plates of dumplings including the xiao long bao. All were excellent. My (Chinese) wife mentioned that the XLB should have been served with a black vinegar sauce, though I thought they were delicious. I love the concept of having craft beer served with spicy Asian food. Recommend this place for dumplings and beer.

During a family gathering, we were introduced to some deliciousness from The Dumpling Inn. Our treats included Xiao Long Baos aka juicy pork buns. Yummy! , Wor Wonton soup is wonderful with just the right amount of saltiness. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other items that will surely make my mouth water before devouring them. I look forward to becoming a fast friend of this Place. I love the diversity of food choices we have in our gorgeous city. Give it a try!

We have eaten at the Dumpling in for years and enjoyed their food. Now this explosion into the Shanghai Saloon is just wonderful. We were with our Chinese friends who insisted they order. We went all out exploring the menu and the food was excellent, the tastes vibrant, service was all that one could ask for. Their bar scene is neat with some great beers. Like the decor, prices were reasonable, portions were large, and even with six people we had some food to take home. WE had a great night out and for once the new edition of this restaurant is better than the old one. Parking can be an issue so leave some extra time and they only take reservations for parties of 8 or more.

My husband and I went in, because of a recommendation by a Chinese merchant in the area. What a mistake it was! The place was jammed; we had to wait 20 minutes, then we received tasteless vegetarian dumplings and a garlic shrimp dish. The dish had no garlic in it whatsoever, so we sent it back. It was returned to us 10 minutes later, with no garlic added at all. I cannot understand why this place received such a high rating. We will not return. The food was tasteless. The atmosphere was noisy and uncomfortable as there was too many people there, and the acoustics magnified the sound.

As a self-stated 'gourmet dumpling and noodle' restaurant, I was tempted to give this place one star. However, the food was edible and the service kind, and I've only had four of the dishes, including the ones mentioned frequently on reviews Ike the pot stickers and the steamed pork mini buns. I also got two noodle dishes since that is the stated specialty. Everything was significantly under salted, but I didn't remove stars for that as everyone has differing opinions regarding salting. I removed stars because nothing tasted good. If this place was in San Fran, Houston, or New York, it would struggle.

We ate here on a recommendation and we were not disappointed with the food. The restaurant is very popular with a lot of the locals from the San Diego Chinese community. We found the food to be very well prepared, tasty and quite authentic as compared to food we have had in China. All in all a very good Chinese restaurant in the Kearny Mesa area and worth a try.

I was looking forward to having an awesome meal because of the number of reviews posted by others. My family walked in and were immediately greeted and seated. The server did not seem to know the menu. We ordered several different dishes and learned that many of them is on the sweeter side. Usually when you go to one of these kind of places, the dishes are not suppose to be sweet because this is not a Thai restaurant. When we tried to communicate with our server about one of the dishes, he did not provide a reasonable excuse as to why the dish tasted this way and not the other way. I feel like the atmosphere and ambiance are great for dates, couples, and families. I feel like there needs to be improvements in the staff as well as the food.

Good dumplings but kind of bland, nothing as tasty as you can get in Asia. The noodles were watery and flavorless. We also tried the "lobster sauce rice" which was really bad.

The Dumpling Inn has the best dumplings we ever had. My wife, son and I went here for an early dinner. We ordered pork with chives dumplings, pork buns and greens. All were delicious, with the dumplings being our favorite. The price is very reasonable. Be aware that seating is limited so the place fills up quickly.

That little dumpling shop in Montreal really set us on a path to find some great dumplings in our own hometown. Dumpling Inn is good - it's very good - and may well be one of our new favorite stops. To start, the service here is great. The wait staff is friendly and efficient, and take the time to answer whatever questions you might have. The food comes out quickly - piping hot and delicious. Our first time there - me, hubs and my cousin - we ordered three different dumplings (well, one order of the potstickers, one order of the beef and curry fried dumplings and one order of the pork and chive dumplings); two orders of the pork belly bao (even though they weren't technically on sale yet); one order of the pan-fried noodles and one order of - what we thought was - the honey walnut shrimp. The two pork belly bao came out first. We were thrilled to get these, since it was an hour before the menu said they'd be available. The meat was nice and tender, but a little fatty. My husband and I split one, just so that we could each get a taste. I think, in retrospect, these were my least favorite items of the day. The potstickers came out next, and they were divine. They were expertly cooked and delectable, and before we could even clear off that plate, the plate of pork and chive dumplings appeared on our table, quickly followed by the noodles and the shrimp. The beef and curry fried dumplings came out last. The noodles were also perfectly cooked, and the sauce was delicious. It was flavorful without being overpowering, and the vegetables were cooked to al dente. (Can you use an Italian term when describing Chinese food?) ;) The not-so-much-honey walnut shrimp was an unexpected surprise. We had all envisioned the usual shrimp dish - lots of mayo, super sweet breaded shrimp, walnuts. Instead, this dish was slightly spicy, not mayo-based, with no walnuts to be found. Really, I'm not sure what we ordered, but it was fantastic. It took us all by surprise. On our second trip here (just me and the hubs), we placed three orders of dumplings (again with the potstickers, the pork and chive dumplings, but this time adding the juicy pork buns), and started with the kimchee salad to share. The salad was not what we had expected. When one says "kimchee", one expects fermented cabbage in a spicy sauce. What we got instead was cabbage dressed in vinegar, served with shaved carrots and herbs. It was good, but not what we expected or wanted. The dumplings were every bit as good the second time around as the first, and the juicy pork dumplings (the steamed Xiao Long Bao) were excellent. We could have made a meal out of those alone. Service was excellent on both visits, though on our last visit, their computer system went down right before we asked for the check. Our waitress came by to apologize and ask if we were in a hurry. We told her we could wait, but ten minutes later, with no fix in sight, she came back to verify our order with us before handing us a hand-written check. Not a big deal, but they couldn't offer us a drink refill or free dessert for the inconvenience? =)

Sunday we went down to the Dumpling Inn (D-I) for lunch. The place was not crowded at 12:15 pm and we were seated right away. Big selection of craft beers but bartender was changing the keg on my choice so we waited a while. The waitress was very pleasant and took the dumpling order right away while we made our choices. We shared an order of(10) Xia Long Bao, the traditional spiced pork with soup inside. This dish varies all across the world but I have had it In China. The D-I version has less soup than usual but was still good. Could have been a little spicier. There is a large menu so we had several dishes and shared them. There was plenty of food. The lamb was good. My szechuan pork was good but again it could have used a bit more hot sauce. Prices were very reasonable and we woild certainly go back.

Really?! A joke! I'll never come back here. What a rathole! Way overpriced too! I can't believe this place is still in business!

Rated #2 of Chinese restaurants in San Diego by Zagat (#1 is in del Mar). Better get a reservation as this place is very popular. The style inside is a bit a mixture of everything, from bar-saloon-restaurant-kitchen. We were seven, including six Chinese friends from China. All dishes were large and highly praised by our friends, from Hot & Sour soup to dumplings, fired rice with shrimps and more and more. I had a sea food dish, too large and fine if it wasn't for the abundance of peanuts (to please Westerners?). The overall value is great with super democratic prices.

I was told to visit here years ago and finally did. I wish I would of stopped in sooner. Staff is polite and courteous. Food is outstanding, 5 stars or even more. We ordered 6 entrees and shared them. Every on of them was delicious! Can't wait to visit again.

Excellent home-style food--dumplings, soups, stir fry-- all at a reasonable price. Go early and beat the crowds!

If you have not been to the new Dumpling Inn check it out. The table service is very fast, no waiting like in the past. Food is still made to order, hot and yummy. We had garlic egg plant and black bean. Along with fish and green beans. Both stayed warm the whole meal. In the past you waited for tables, now there has to be ten times the amount of tables, a huge plus.

Visited the restaurant based on a recommendation. The food was not bad if you like Americanized-Chinese. The dumplings, as the restaurant's name suggests, is the main attraction. We had the pot stickers and the steamed dumplings, which were both good. We also tried the pan fried noodles and the garlic shrimp. Again, tasted good but very Americanized flavor. The hot and sour soup was very good. I would most likely not return to the restaurant, but I do want to acknowledge the server who was very attentive and took great care of us.

Totally a fan of this remodel! Back in 2011, Dumpling Inn was just a humble little hole in the wall. This hole in the wall was definitely always busy with lines out the door and crazy wait times, but it's because people knew they served authentic and delicious xiao long baos (pork soup dumplings). Fast forward to 2017 and here I am again and wow they have definitely upgraded! Great selection of craft beer on tap, full bar service, the restaurant is maybe 5 times the size of the old restaurant, and business is definitely booming! There's still a wait most of the time if you come at peak hours, but it's definitely not as bad as it used to be. Plus, if you're willing to grab a seat at the bar, there's almost always space there. Of course, my favorite items to order are still the xiao long bao and the pork and shrimp chive dumplings. I also like to add the hot sauce to kick it up a notch. The service is quick, friendly, and it's just a great atmosphere to hang out and enjoy delicious authentic Chinese food. Definitely recommended!

This place has a very fun atmosphere, happy staff and amazing food. We went for the dumplings, which were fantastic, but we will make a point to go back for the rest of their dishes. Make sure you order the handmade noodles. It's worth the extra price. They are amazing.

Ok. Who doesn't like fried pig ears? If you don't, that's ok because everything on this diverse menu is well done. Orange chicken, garlic shrimp, calamari - you name it, it's good. Worth a stop if you are in the area. Good for a dinner after hiking all day in Mission Trails, or after beer tasting at Council, Kilowatt, or Societe Brewing companies - all of which are close-by.

Based on a friends recommendation we ordered several items. Deluxe war wonton soup 12 vegetable dumplings and an assorted vegetable entree. I was amazed how awful everything was. The dumpling dough was raw and doughy, the vegetable entree was extremely tasteless and very overlooked. We asked for a dipping sauce for the dumpling and to our amazement were told there was none. The war wonton, served in an oversized bowl contained NO char su pork,over cooked beef barely chewable, sparse amount of vegetables, no bok choi, three shrimp. And a huge amount of tasteless broth. We complained to the waitress and was quickly told that they served authentic Chinese food. Well I have been eating Chinese in authentic Chinese restaurants including authentic dim sim style restaurants and this place was disgusting. I don't care if people wait on line to get in I will never go back.

Looks like a little dumpy hole in the wall, but don't let it fool you-this place is sooo good! We ordered the pork dumplings and they were wonderful!! "I also hard the saute shrimp in garlic sauce...that was good too! They serve free hot tea too. And this place has great ambiance, so don't let the outside of the place throw you off!

This wonderful little (it really is small) restaurant tucked away in a strip mall is not to be dismissed. People come here for the food, not the decor. Each dish served brought enticing aromas and mouthwatering flavors. The service is friendly and attentive but not overbearing. It is off the usual tourist beaten path of San Diego and that can be a very good thing indeed. The Dumpling Inn is family friendly and seems to cater mostly to in the know locals. My kind of place!

We ate at Dumpling Inn for the first time this last Sunday evening. It was recommended by friends as their "favorite Chinese food" in San Diego. Since our friends are half Chinese and every bit gourmet eaters regardless of cuisine, we expected a special experience. We were not disappointed. The line was out the door when we arrived at 5:15pm and it took almost an hour for us to be seated. We started with pot stickers (good) and steamed shrimp dumplings (good) that held us over until the entree's started coming. Fresh Chinese greens (fantastic), Shredded Pork with Plum sauce (equally fantastic), and Szechuan Sea Bass (out of this world). It was the best Chinese food I have eaten in the United States -- including San Francisco and Honolulu --where you can certainly pay a whole lot more and not enjoy what you are eating half as much. Was it truly gourmet Chinese? No -- this is not Alan Wong's... - but much closer to the everyday, freshly cooked food you would get in an outdoor market in Singapore or Hong Kong - perfectly executed and lip smacking good.

Dumpling Inn has been around for about 30 years, formerly the small cozy restaurant next door. Then in 2015 they moved to the current location, and upsized a few times. They still serve the same great foods as before, and added more items to their menus. The dumplings are as good as before. The noodles are made fresh. The serving size is pretty generous. Food is served pretty fast. The restaurant was very well designed and decorated, with great atmosphere, with a little retro feeling. If you like to drink, they offer great selection of liquors, wine and local craft beers on tap. The parking lot is pretty small. So parking can be an issue if you come at a busy hour.

We had a couple different dumplings and they were great. All our meals were good too. I got the black pepper steak and it was awesome.

A better standout among average chinese places in San Diego. This places specializes in Northern Chinese food such as dumplings and buns. However, the long lines are a bit of a buzz-kill.

We had to wait quite a while to get into this small restaurant, outside the door and in the sun, but it was worth the wait.The steamed buns with pork and chives were delicious, as were the steamed buns. I was wary of ordering steamed buns because I don't like the rubbery pillowy stuff, but these were more like a tender sausage ravioli topped with fresh ginger.. You make your own dipping sauces with the soy sauce, vinegars, hot sauce, sesame oil etc. that are provided. Each dish of 10 items was $7.95. The service was friendly and cheerful. Definitely going back !

I was a bit hesitant about writing a review about Dumpling Inn, primarily because it is my favorite place and it only has about 10 tables. I did not want to share with others the joy this place bring to my palate since I didn't want to increase the already long wait during peak hours. Although I wont claim that this place has the best Chinese food I've ever had, I dare say that you'll find something you'll love at this hidden gem. I absolutely love this place not because of the atmosphere, value or service, which could be better; I love this place because the food is that good.

Have been enjoying Dumpling Inn for many years. Simply put, if you want the best fried dumplings in town, excellent main courses at a fair price, and meet 2 of the friendliest servers-Mary and Tina-you ever will, thus is the place. If you need to use the bathroom-they don't have one-go to the market in the same parking lot and bring back a beer or some wine to enjoy with dinner.

A large, loud restaurant with a large menu. Parking was a nightmare but we were able to get seated without a wait. Potstickers were very good. The soup dumplings were different from usual xiao long bao because of the peanut sauce inside; we didn't like them that much. The noodles with pork were authentic, salty and a little greasy and so tasty. Service was also "authentic" Asian-style service--quick and a little abrupt. We loved our dinner, but the salt and grease did not make us feel very healthy the next day.

Started with a "Dragon Eye" cocktail. That is their version of a Lychee Martini. It tasted much different than what we are used to. Very sweet and served in a glass much smaller than a martini glass. Next we shared a large Wonton soup. There was enough for four people. The photo shows the remains after two of us each had a potion. We had several orders of pork pot stickers that the children loved, pan fried noodles with chicken that was tender, soup noodles and the best dish was Kung Poe Sea Bass! All the dishes were exceptional except for the soup noodles which were just OK. The service was friendly and professional. This is a restaurant that we will visit many times while we are visiting San Diego. The prices are very reasonable, the portions great and the ambiance super with most customers of Asian decent. We also found out that you can make a reservation ahead of time with 8 or more people.

Seriously, one of the best Chinese dishes I have ever had, I crave the beef and scallions ALL the time! The cost is a little high for chinese food but everything is made fresh to order. The home made dumplings are great too...the steamed pork dumplings are our favorite!

Very good food in a tiny space. Service very efficient. Dumplings , Kung Pao chicken, noodle dishes are among our favorites. Avoid the lines & take out.

My wife and I were visiting San Diego and we saw great reviews for the Dumpling Inn. We drove out to the restaurant in a suburban shopping mall and saw a line of people waiting (it was a Friday night though). We signed up on the waiting list and got in about 20 minutes later. It was definitely worth the wait. The dumplings are delicious and hand made. My wife thought these were the best potstickers she ever had, lightly pan-fried (and we even make our own!) The xiao lung bao (dumplings with soup inside) were pretty good, but the pork and chive dumplings were great. The noodle soup (pork with mustard greens) was superb and had homemade wide noodles. We also got the picked cucumbers as a nice crisp veggie to go along with this, a lightly marinated cucumber, nice and cool. It was so great, that we went again on Tuesday evening and the line was even longer. But .... again worth the wait. This is a small restaurant (maybe 8-10 tables), but I guess that helps them keep their quality high. The diners included both Chinese and westerners.

Tried this for brunch on Sunday before returning home to LA and boy are we glad we did! Small place in an Asian strip mall, with tables packed in real close. Wonderful smells come from the kitchen. We were pleasantly surprised at how tasty the dumplings were. We had the pork and chives and shrimp and chives dumplings, 10 to an order. We could have easily just kept ordering and eating them until we rolled out of the restaurant! We also had a delightful shredded pork with plum sauce and a nice noodle soup, but oh those dumplings!

The place is always packed which is a testament to the food and service. The wonton soup, sea bass with green beans is an eternal favorite. You simply can't go wrong about this place. Try it and you will be a believer.

Located on Convoy Street in the heart of a growing thriving Korean community...the people are friendly, the cocktails are memorable, and you must have dumplings, chicken chow main with added house made noodles (Asian Fettuccine), and San Francisco-worthy pork pot stickers....there will be plenty to take home. Kim Chi salad is.....just acceptable.

Went there for happy hour, for a decent crowd there was only one bartender and took him a while to take orders( that's not his fault) after he was able to take the orders the bar back had no clue where the food goes so we got wrong food twice. I had couple of beers and it was okay. I've asked for water but never got it. Over all all the food was ore made item and was not impressed.

This small place has the best Chinese noodles and dumplings. The quality has been maintained for years. The place is very simple, there is always a waiting list hangining from the door. service is friendly and fast. The food is very tasty. We had the pork noodles and a sea bass with steamed rice. Superb!

Went on a Tuesday morning just as they opened. No wait at all. Ordered a couple of cold dishes for appetizer - shredded radish and sliced pickled cucumbers. Quite good. Also had Xiau Long Bao and also scallop dumplings. Both were very good as reviewed by others. A must try is the deep fried Curry Beef Dumplings - kinda like samosas but way better. For an Asian restaurant service was actually pretty good. Prices okay. Would definitely return to try the other items on the menu. A must for all Zonies when in San Diego,

We dined here on a Sunday night. We arrived around 8pm and there were still many people waiting for a table. Luckily there were seats available at the bar so we didn't have to wait for 30+mins. It was an interesting experience to have Chinese dinner at a traditional bar counter. We ordered the pot sticker and the shredded port with green beans (which comes a bowl of rice). Both dishes were surprisingly good and portions were generous. Our server, who was also one of the bartenders, took very good care of us by suggesting great draft beer to go with our food. I enjoyed this experience very much.

Whereas this restaurant gets real good reviews, I didn't think it was all that good. It wasn't bad by any means and the food was good. Just not great! I've been to some really good Chinese restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles that I am comparing this place to. Based on this experience I would say that there are probably just not a lot of really good Chinese restaurants in San Diego. It was obviously popular as there were a lot of people trying to get in. They close surprisingly early (8:30pm) and had to turn customers away at the door! One thing we had that was very good were the steamed pork buns, so I would suggest trying those if you eat here.

This is not our first visit and it will not be our last. This is a simple, very small, restaurant with a long line to get in. We arrived before 5PM and still had to wait a short time for a table for six. When we left there were at least 10 people waiting outside. The best dish was the sea bass. The sauce was slightly spicy and simply wonderful. The chicken dumplings were scrumptious and the garlic shrimp dish was good but we found ourselves dunking the shrimp into the Seabass sauce because the garlic sauce was too mild. You have to ask for hot tea and it was just right. We love this place but have to go early to avoid the wait since there are very few tables.

We like almost everything we tried on the menu, sea bass is our all time favorite!

We came here for a birthday party of 9 people. I called ahead of time and told them we were going to need an extra chair for my 5 year old niece. When we got there they had messed up the tables and they gave us a smaller seating that was pretty cramped with 8 adults and 1 kid. The food however was worth it. The handmade dumpling were made with care and their filling were savory. We had the juicy pork buns (love the name) which were the best flavored dumpling we consumed. The vegetarian dumpling were just OK and needed some kind of sauce. The pork and chive dumplings were melt in your mouth delicious as well. My mom had the wonton soup. The broth was savory, rich, and had that great umami flavor. The wontons were perfectly cooked with a meat filling. My boyfriend had the Lamb and scallion stir fry. It was cooked well, but had a lot of grease. The flavor was not gamy at all and everyone enjoyed the dish. Overall it was a fun atmosphere, but got very loud at times. The food was very tasty and I would go back for the pork bao dumplings.

This longtime Convoy Street establishment (which started as a hole-in-the-wall kind of place) still provides pretty good quality and value. There are better places specializing in noodle or dumpling dishes, but Dumpling Inn presents a diversified menu that works well for a family or group having different tastes. The traditional dishes are well-made but a bit boring, so go for the spicier and more creative dishes, like the aptly named spicy soup with three ingredients (calamari, shrimp and chicken), and order it with the house-made thick noodles. It can be crowded and noisy, and parking can be a problem, but it's worth trying at least once.

Tasty fresh hand made dumplings with variety of fillings. Good cold dishes, but the Xia-Loang bo was just OK. Good service. Parking is terrible.

They don't take reservations so if, like us, you go on a Sat night be prepared to wait outside. I promise it's worth it. We had 3 different kinds of dumplings plus soup, plenty of food for the 2 of us for $25. Service is cool but efficient.

Between interesting cocktail names & tasty dumplings & soups, this place was worth it! Our bill would be cheaper without the cocktails but sooooo worth it! Qing Collins with sriracha vodka.

Dumpling Inn has now moved to a bigger facility in the same plaza. The parking is still an issue especially at peak lunch time. We only ordered from the lunch menu and had the steamed vegetable dumplings, xiao long bao, stir fried beef on rice, spicy noodles. Taste was average. Service was good.

We arrived at 4pm on a Saturday, thinking we'd beat the crowds. Alas, it was still a 30 min wait (but worth it!) We shared the pork and chive dumplings, the seabass with black bean sauce, and crispy pork noodles. All of the flavors were really great (if a teeny bit heavy-handed with the salt), but if pressed I'd say the dumplings were my favorite. It's a friendly, low-ambiance place, with food that reminds me of my mom and aunts' cooking (they're all from Hong Kong). Thumbs up.

This small, cramped,restaurant without even a Chinese calendar on the wall serves the most superb, homemade dumplings and potstickers west of China. No warm waiting area, no gracious hostess, no beckoning cat, just the highest quality ingredients and most authentic tastes in Chinese food. For my last meal on death row, I would eat the potstickers, pork buns and sea bass with black bean sauce.

Amazing Kung Pao sea bass and of course dumplings. Like being at someones home for dinner except with hungry people staring you down to get your table.

Handmade noodles and dumplings were fresh and tasty. I particularly recommend the shrimp and chives dumplings. We had a 30 minute wait at 12:45pm, and we're told the dinner wait can be longer. This restaurant is in an Asian market strip center, and you can walk through the various shops for awhile rather than just stand on the sidewalk. I recommend bringing your own wine and snacks and maybe having a parking lot picnic. It's a very small place, and the waitstaff was efficient and prompt, although a bit brusque.

My friends took me here for lunch. This is a very busy place. We had the fried dumplings, soup dumplings, shrimp and chive and the pork dumplings. They were all really good. They put some sauces and condiments on the tables to mix your own dipping sauce.

So this has some very tasty dishes,some fine/average dishes and one or two "eh" dishes- now some of this I am sure is personal preference, but some of it is I have also gotten to sample great chinese food along my travels so yes my standards are maybe a little high. wait here can be intense, you write your own name down(heads up)- service is often rushed because they are so slammed-food is good quality and dishes are tasty. A good choice but its by no means outstanding or the best I have ever had by any means Do I recommend? yes and no-its a good choice if in the area but not some place you have to go to if you live within a 70 mile radius

This was our first time here even though we have been going to nearby Jasmine Seafood/Dim Sum for Decades. My wife and I shared a Diced Shrimp & Chive Dumpling appetizer, 10 pieces, a lunch sized Saute' Shrimp w/Garlic Sauce and a Spicy 3 Ingredient Noodle soup made of shrimp, calamari and chicken. Based on other reviews we ordered the Home made noodles which took a little longer but was well worth it. The soup was spicy the way I like it and not so hot my wife was able to eat it. All dishes were excellent and I would recommend. We will definitely return. My only complaints were that parking, even at 11:30 AM was impossible and they do not serve beer! Limited seating, but the tables turned over fairly quickly.

Small hole in the wall place that seats less than 30. I've eaten here twice both times on a Saturday for lunch. If you're not there by 11:15 expect to have a bit of a wait. Everything I tasted was the real deal and I've eaten at Asian restaurants all over Asia on multiple trips. If you're in the neighborhood go. It is on Convoy street which is the closest thing to a mini China Town in San Diego

Came here for lunch with 6 others from the office. As the name said dumplings,....I had to go that route. Shrimp and cilantro dumplings......10 for around $8. They were delicious. Another had the pork and cilantro and said it was great. The rest of the group went with one of the typical cantonese specials. Lemon chicken, cashew chicken, etc. They all said it was quite good, and ran between $7-8. So, overall good food.....very good service..........nice atmosphere in a very large room, and very good value.

I couldn't be more enthusiastic about this restaurant. Every single dish we tried was fantastic. There was a large group, so we ate all of our dishes family style (which the restaurant is happy to help with, bringing lots of plates etc). I can't believe I'm about to cheer loudly for green beans - but seriously I don't know if I've ever had them cooked more perfectly. They're slightly oily/browned on the outside, a tiny bit of crunch on the inside, still bright green but the starch is broken down just enough. They were amazing. We even had the jellyfish, which had the firm texture of a clam but absorbed the flavor of the sauce completely (didn't really have it's own flavor). Highly recommend getting the pickled radish if trying a lot of dishes, perfect palate cleanser. The staff was friendly and on top of everything before you even thought to ask.