Lai Young — Attraction in Hayward

Some day, when I have dedicated staff in residence, I will have delicious dumplings made by hand and eat it every day.

Or, I might just move back in with my mom.

Until then, this is my go-to spot for picking up 50-count bags of frozen shui jiao dumplings that allow for quick, delicious meals in 10 minutes. Much tastier than anything you might pick up at 99 Ranch or, heavens forbid, Trader Joe's.

I had originally heard about this place from my mom, in fact, maybe 8-10 years ago. She isn't known for aimlessly driving through nondescript neighborhoods in search of papered-over storefronts housing clandestine dumpling-making operations; she had chatted up a restaurant owner who fessed up his dumpling source. Life hasn't been the same since.

As the other reviews have suggested it's located in an odd residential location, with a dicey-looking storefront. Trust whatever car navigation tool you use. Once you open the door, you're an arm's length away from the worktable where a few ladies are relentlessly forming dumplings by hand.

$13 for a bag of 50 chicken dumplings, $16 for the pork-shrimp-chives combo, cash-and-carry. Boil for 10 minutes, drain, serve with favorite sauces (I'm partial to soy sauce + Yank Sing chili sauce) and be happy. Their xiao lung bao is good, and not spectacular, but since I'm neither able nor willing to make them myself, far be it for me to complain.

The owner is unfailingly nice and friendly, and seems genuinely happy that people drive out of the way to his business. A...

Buying dumplings like this is a bit of a new experience for me as I have historically gone to a grocery place and bought some frozen ones there.. but these I was really impressed with. The quality and plump, juiciness of the dumplings is so delicious that I don't think I can go back to my old ways again. I really enjoyed their mini pork and shrimp, pork, chives dumplings. I am pretty sensitive to porkiness if the protein isn't great but here there is none of that, something that made me wanting one more dumpling after one more. Really recommend and love how easy it is to drop in and pick up a bag. Cash only...

My Taiwanese friend recommended this place for best Chinese dumpling in this area. As soon as I got there, I asked them if they are the best in this area. They were modest. :) I enjoyed their high quality frozen dumplings forever from that moment. Highly recommended. The skin is soft and chewy but not weak, meat inside is well stuffed. Not sure how to describe it. But anyway...