Dumpling District

Wife and I came here for a quick early dinner. Ordered one order of the soup dumpling sampler, hot and sour soup and the scallion noodles. The scallion noodles and the soup were bland to the point of being almost inedible, with the soup in particular tasting like it was straight out of one of those powdered soup packets yet even more watered down. Seriously, I cannot reiterate enough how terrible the hot and sour soup was... It was the worst I've ever had. The soup dumplings, though, were actually pretty good - flavorful and delicious, although the dipping sauce was not particularly good. I recommend eating the dumplings by themselves without it. Overall though, not particularly pleased with the quality.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 4

SUPERB soup dumplings - we had pork and crab with pork. The fried pork chive dumplings were good but only lightly fried - and definitely at their best when freshly delivered.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3

We loved this place! Lots of great dumpling options- we tried the chicken soup dumplings and the rainbow soup dumplings- which is one of each flavor- and we loved them all! Lots of flavor. We also tried the pork Bao and the crab now both of which were very tasty. Service was fast too

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The Rainbow Dumplings were amazing and the combo deal is TOTALLY recommended! The staff was awesome and friendly and the atmosphere in the mall is really unique and a cool underground vibe in my opinion. Loved the experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ordered the beef noodle soup because I saw some reviews saying it’s the best. It is NOT. The beef is way too thick and clearly tastes like it’s been stored for a long time.
The soup tastes worst than prepackaged soup base.
Honestly just don’t get the noodles here. Definitely not worth the price.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 4

Got spare ribs over rice but when I got to office. I didn’t get any bok choy but the menu picture showed the bowl w bok choy. That is misleading

great service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The noodles were hands down the worst noodles I've ever had in my life. I try not to leave bad reviews for subpar restaurant experiences, but the food was just THAT bad. The noodles were mushy and had absolutely no flavor at all. It tasted like water. Not even a handful of soy sauce packets could save them. Absolutely dreadful. The spring rolls did not save the meal and neither did the gummy, flavorless dumplings. At least the food was hot, that's the only nice thing I can think to say.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 3

I ordered the braised beef noodle soup. Unfortunately, the beef was tough and chewy. Basically inedible. The noodles were decent, though.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

Average dumplings but not bad. Kinda pricey

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

i love the braised beef noodle soup! so tasty.
the service was really quick. everything is perfect.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I want to enjoy this place but the fried rice and noodle dishes I’ve tried are absolutely flavorless. In an ideal world you can give this a boost with some soy sauce but only cheap knockoff soy sauce is provided that just helps maintain the mediocrity. I’ve given the place two chances, and at $17 for a dish it’s not happening again.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 4

A mixed bite, dumpling disappointment, but a soup redemption. Taking a well-earned break from my usual grind of fixing planes, I ventured out with high hopes and an appetite for discovery. I was eager to be wowed, especially by a spot known for its dumplings. Sadly, the culinary journey didn't quite take off the way I expected. This place is situated in the Ballston Quarter Food court, I got lost trying to find it, so here you go......it's underneath the building!!!
My wife and I ordered an assortment of dumplings, including the vibrant rainbow dumplings and the much-anticipated crab dumplings. For our daughter, we chose the seafood noodle soup--a decision that, in hindsight, turned out to be the saving grace of the entire meal.
Let's start with the dumplings. While visually appealing, the flavors left much to be desired. There was a disappointing lack of distinction between the varieties--bland, uninspired, and nearly indistinguishable from one another. The only exception was the black truffle soup dumpling, which offered a welcome burst of flavor and stood apart as the sole highlight in an otherwise forgettable lineup.
The crab dumplings, in particular, were underwhelming. I had expected the briny sweetness of crab to shine through, but it was muted to the point of invisibility. Frankly, the lack of contrast among the flavors made me contemplate seeking a different dining option altogether.
But then, the seafood noodle soup arrived--and the story changed. Served in three distinct components, the dish invited interaction and discovery. The base: tender noodles accompanied by a generous seafood tray. Into this, you pour a separate vessel of clear, aromatic broth--giving it a minute or two to fully awaken the flavors. The result? A richly layered, deeply satisfying bowl of comfort.
Scallops, white fish, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy--each element played its part. The textures were thoughtful, the flavors balanced. I managed a few bites before our daughter reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that I was intruding on her meal. Fair enough. It was that good.
Service was another highlight. The young man behind the counter was gracious, attentive, and genuinely kind--a quality that earns its own star in my book. The ambiance was refreshingly different: industrial, a touch underground, with an urban energy that stood in stark contrast to the more polished but generic feel of the Waldorf area. It's a space that welcomes families without sacrificing character.
In short, the setting and service raised expectations the food didn't quite meet--at least when it came to the dumplings. But the seafood noodle soup? That dish alone is worth a return visit. Come for the ambiance, stay for the soup--and if you're chasing great dumplings, perhaps look elsewhere... for now. And as always, enjoy your bite......or try someplace else.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Wow, District Dumpling soup dumplings are fantastic. We got the chicken/crab and shrimp/artichoke. The kids were mmm’ing the whole time. The dumpling skin is chewy and the soup and meat are sweet and savory. We liked these soup dumplings better than Din Tai Fung in Asia!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We ordered the xiaolongbao and the scallion pancakes. Both dishes were delicious. The scallion pancakes were very crispy and the sauce added a lot of flavor to it. The xiaolongbao was also very flavorful and had a lot of soup in it. Overall we had a very good experience at this restaurant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5