Xiao Long Dumplings — Restaurant in Spring Valley

Xiao Long Dumplings is more than just a dining establishment; it's an immersive experience that blends warm hospitality, culinary excellence, and playful charm. From the moment we walked through the door, the staff welcomed us with genuine smiles, creating an atmosphere that felt like a reunion with long-lost family. Despite the bustling activity, the attentive service persisted, adding an extra layer of comfort to our dining experience.

A unique feature that caught our attention was the integration of technology into the ordering process. We were given the option to choose between the traditional paper menu and a modern approach, ordering directly from our phones. This high-tech touch showcased the restaurant's commitment to combining tradition with innovation seamlessly. The waitress, who exuded enthusiasm and knowledge, recommended the green grape-flavored soju, a suggestion that turned out to be a highlight of the evening, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and refreshing grape undertones.

Adding to the charm of Xiao Long Dumplings was a cute dumpling man statue strategically placed for photo opportunities. This whimsical addition not only served as a playful backdrop but also contributed to the overall enjoyable ambiance. As we indulged in a diverse array of dishes, from succulent pork dumplings to expertly crafted chicken fried rice and chicken chow mein, the atmosphere was heightened by the cheerful presence of the dumpling man statue. It became a focal point that complemented the warmth of the staff and the innovative ordering options.

To cap off our culinary journey, the chocolate banana bao stole the spotlight, showcasing a perfect fusion of rich chocolate and sweet banana encased in a flawlessly steamed bun. Xiao Long Dumplings impressed not only with its exceptional service and diverse menu but also with thoughtful details like the cute dumpling man statue that added an extra layer of personality to the dining space. Our visit was more than just a meal; it was a delightful experience that left us eager to return for another adventure and perhaps another photo with the charming...

This restaurant was the biggest in that shopping center! Very spacious inside. There was a 5-10 minute wait for a table for two at 10pm! It was crowded, and when I looked up the Yelp ratings, it was promising.

My boyfriend had been here before and he recommended the beef scallion pancake roll and chili wonton dumplings. We also ordered a couple soup dumplings, and here’s my assessment:

Cucumber: Wow. Refreshing in flavorful sauce, it was the best first and last bite for dinner!

Eggplant: my boyfriend loves eggplant, and this is his favorite so far out of all Asian restaurants he’s dined at. They were Asian eggplants in a mildly sweet sauce. I wish they cut it into bite-size pieces so I don’t have to struggle with the strings when I bite them in half, or feel like I have a whole snail in my mouth when I stuff a whole slice!

Beef scallion pancake: it’s rolled, so it looked like a burrito, with vegetables inside and tender pieces of beef. It was amazing! It has a sweetness to the sauce and the pancake was flaky and perfect.

House pork soup dumpling: WHAT!!! These are way bigger than Din Tai Fung!!! An order comes with six. The soup had an umami flavor and the grated ginger, soy sauce, and chili crisp sauces on the table made it such a pleasure.

Spicy pork soup dumpling: same as above but with chili oil, and it was only mildly spicy, but easily solved with your table sauces. I’ll probably try something else next time over this one.

Chili wontons: it’s in a bottom of a bowl covered with sliced cucumbers and on top is a smear of rich, pasty, creamy, peanut-y sauce that I actually did not like! I am not a fan of strong peanut flavor and the creaminess of the sauce was too rich for me. The rest of our food had felt light, and this one made us feel guilty we were eating past our bedtime. My bf did enjoy it.

I asked for hot water and they gave it to me in a regular plastic glass for cold water, I thought that was weird but that doesn’t take off a star.

Service was FAST!

I’d eat here over Din Tai Fung from now...

Update 2 years later:

Came here for the first time 2 years ago and it is still just as bomb. The chili pork soup dumplings have so much more flavor than the regular house dumplings. We got:

4 orders of the chili and pork soup dumplings (24 dumplings total) an order of the pork wontons in chili sauce (it’s a peanut sauce) an order of the pork buns (comes with 4)

Honestly, the pork buns weren’t as good as they used to be. They used to be super juicy. This time, they were not as juicy but still had good flavor.

Our favorite will always be the chili and pork soup dumplings. We have recommended this place to several friends and family due to their phenomenal quality, service, and affordability. The inside is also super cute.

We will be back!

—————————————————————— Previous review (2022):

This place is BOMB. We came here on accident on a Thursday because we were looking for another place across the street that we couldn’t find. We are glad we ended up here. We walked in at around 7:15pm and got seated immediately. We had to be at Brenden Theaters by 7:45pm for Thor: Love & Thunder so we were a little nervous we wouldn’t make it if service was slow.

We placed our order right when our waitress brought our waters and before we knew it, our first dish was brought to our table. It was the wontons in spicy sauce, which was really good. It had like a peanut sauce and shredded cucumbers.

We ordered three orders of soup dumplings. Two were the house soup dumplings and one was the soup dumplings with chili. These all came out shortly after we finished our first dish. They were AMAZING. Full of soup and flavor. The spoons weren’t even big enough to hold all of the soup after poking a hole in the dumpling lol.

All in all, we were out of there by around 7:40pm and made it to our movie during the previews.

Speedy service and bomb food is hard to find. We will be...