The “dry-fried chicken wings” are basically just Panda Express orange chicken for triple the price. About 6 wings with very thick breading are coated in a goopy, sickly-sweet sauce. The breading had fallen off for several of our wings. The menu also indicated that these are spicy, but there was no hint of spice whatsoever. It basically just tasted like sugar.
We got some XLB and pan-friend dumplings as well. XLB was decent, but nothing particularly remarkable. The pan-fried pork dumplings were doughy, almost bready, on the bottom. The fried portion had also absorbed too much oil for my taste, and the filling was pretty dry and crumbly.
Service and ambience were excellent! However, despite some aesthetic similarities to Dumpling Home in SF, the food quality here is significantly lower.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Dan Mueller
Decent dumpling action for the area. Always worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mike Yang
Best food in Palo Alto.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alvin Li
Unique Xiaolong soup dumplings
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
B T
Blandest, most overpriced Chinese food I've had in the Bay. Tried two soups and some dumplings. Completely disappointing.
Crystal N
Delicious food, good service, xiao long baos were perfect - thin dough wrap, soupy and tasty meat filling, delicious potstickers and other dumplings and homemade noodles.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
F Z
Came here for the soup dumplings and pan-fried buns – both were quite good and rank among the top soup dumpling spots in the Bay Area (I’ve tried plenty over the years!). Happy to have a quality dumpling place in Palo Alto.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Xiao Long Bao 4, Juicy Pan-Fried Pork Buns
Melissa Oller
I love this place! We came to satisfy the serious food preferences my family has and were so pleased with the food. While there is a sign in waitlist, the wait was maybe 10 min. The food was all so delicious. We ordered the juicy pan fried buns, pork XLB, cucumber salad, pork and cabbage dumplings, and braised beef soup noodles. Service was quick and friendly. Price point was good. I can’t wait to go back and/or order takeout.
Kid-friendliness: Pretty casual. Booths or banquette seating. Indoors and outdoor tables.
We ordered the cucumber with crushed garlic salad, seasoned beef pocket, and chicken dumplings with shiitake mushrooms. The salad was good; however, the beef in the seasoned beef pocket was cold, and the sweet sauce didn’t appeal to us. The dumplings were dry, and the shrimp dumpling had a tiny shrimp (as shown in the picture).
The service was subpar – our orders didn’t arrive at the same time, and the last one came out wrong. Additionally, the dishes were chipped, which left a poor impression.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Amira Polack
Dumpling Hours is easily up there on my Best of the Bay list. Definitely among the best soup dumplings (Xiao long bao) you’ll find pretty much anywhere in the U.S. (coming from an LA-based soup dumpling enthusiast). The juicy pan-fried pork buns are also a must. Pork wontons with sesame & chili sauce were also a tasty starter. You’ve got to try this place!
Daili Shang
Overpriced in my opinion, inflation and location considered. I paid $31 pre tip for 6 pan fried dumplings and 10 dumplings. Left the restaurant hungry. Food tasted no better than my frozen dumplings at home.
One Of Us
What a bland dinner.
I'll start with the good: The food arrived quickly. But that's about it.
The seating is casual. You are clearly expected to eat and go.
As to the food - since when flavor became optional? I had boiled dumplings and a noodle soup, and was served, simply put, bland carbs. The kitchen staff should take those off the menu. Or be forced to eat those themselves.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Linh Nguyen
Crab & pork XLB are to die for. Pleasant and quick service. Slightly on the pricy side, but definitely worth it for the quality
The “dry-fried chicken wings” are basically just Panda Express orange chicken for triple the price. About 6 wings with very thick breading are coated in a goopy, sickly-sweet sauce. The breading had fallen off for several of our wings. The menu also indicated that these are spicy, but there was no hint of spice whatsoever. It basically just tasted like sugar.
We got some XLB and pan-friend dumplings as well. XLB was decent, but nothing particularly remarkable. The pan-fried pork dumplings were doughy, almost bready, on the bottom. The fried portion had also absorbed too much oil for my taste, and the filling was pretty dry and crumbly.
Service and ambience were excellent! However, despite some aesthetic similarities to Dumpling Home in SF, the food quality here is significantly lower.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Decent dumpling action for the area. Always worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Best food in Palo Alto.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unique Xiaolong soup dumplings
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Blandest, most overpriced Chinese food I've had in the Bay. Tried two soups and some dumplings. Completely disappointing.
Delicious food, good service, xiao long baos were perfect - thin dough wrap, soupy and tasty meat filling, delicious potstickers and other dumplings and homemade noodles.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for the soup dumplings and pan-fried buns – both were quite good and rank among the top soup dumpling spots in the Bay Area (I’ve tried plenty over the years!). Happy to have a quality dumpling place in Palo Alto.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Xiao Long Bao 4, Juicy Pan-Fried Pork Buns
I love this place! We came to satisfy the serious food preferences my family has and were so pleased with the food. While there is a sign in waitlist, the wait was maybe 10 min. The food was all so delicious. We ordered the juicy pan fried buns, pork XLB, cucumber salad, pork and cabbage dumplings, and braised beef soup noodles. Service was quick and friendly. Price point was good.
I can’t wait to go back and/or order takeout.
Kid-friendliness: Pretty casual. Booths or banquette seating. Indoors and outdoor tables.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Fried Juicy Pork Buns, Boiled Pork Dumplings, Braised Beef Soup Noodles
The juicy pan fried pork buns are excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Very delicious dumplings. Will be going back for more juicy pork dumplings!
Restaurantji Recommends
We ordered the cucumber with crushed garlic salad, seasoned beef pocket, and chicken dumplings with shiitake mushrooms. The salad was good; however, the beef in the seasoned beef pocket was cold, and the sweet sauce didn’t appeal to us. The dumplings were dry, and the shrimp dumpling had a tiny shrimp (as shown in the picture).
The service was subpar – our orders didn’t arrive at the same time, and the last one came out wrong. Additionally, the dishes were chipped, which left a poor impression.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Dumpling Hours is easily up there on my Best of the Bay list. Definitely among the best soup dumplings (Xiao long bao) you’ll find pretty much anywhere in the U.S. (coming from an LA-based soup dumpling enthusiast). The juicy pan-fried pork buns are also a must. Pork wontons with sesame & chili sauce were also a tasty starter. You’ve got to try this place!
Overpriced in my opinion, inflation and location considered. I paid $31 pre tip for 6 pan fried dumplings and 10 dumplings. Left the restaurant hungry. Food tasted no better than my frozen dumplings at home.
What a bland dinner.
I'll start with the good:
The food arrived quickly.
But that's about it.
The seating is casual. You are clearly expected to eat and go.
As to the food - since when flavor became optional?
I had boiled dumplings and a noodle soup, and was served, simply put, bland carbs.
The kitchen staff should take those off the menu. Or be forced to eat those themselves.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Crab & pork XLB are to die for. Pleasant and quick service. Slightly on the pricy side, but definitely worth it for the quality
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