Ugly Dumpling — Restaurant in Linden

UPDATE 1/21/25 Paying homage to the centuries-old cooking techniques of Shanghai, this establishment went from modest street snacks to amazing dishes.

Located at Aviation Plaza in Linden, I’ve returned to Ugly Dumpling, which is a restaurant chain and has truly set a new standard for Chinese cuisine in the area where a few of my colleagues came for lunch today during their soft opening.

Greeted by the host, we got a table immediately. Their interior featured a huge dining area, a bar, and a bao station where diners can watch chefs make dumplings, wontons, and dim sum in a contemporary design that was well-lit with lots of natural light exposure.

With its signature dish being Xiao Long Bao, a Chinese dumpling filled with rich, delicious soup broth served in bamboo steaming baskets, their menu mirrors Din Tai Fung in Midtown Manhattan with dim sums, wontons, fried rice, noodles, salads, and desserts, but with much more reasonable pricing.

We decided on the Cucumber Salad, Green Beans with Garlic, Chicken Fried Rice, Ugly Dumpling Sampler, and Pork, Shrimp, and Spinach Dumplings to share.

The food presentation was simple and clean. Everything was fresh, hot, and delicious. First timer for some of us on having the Cucumber salad, which was unique and flavored really well. Each dumpling filling was bursting with flavor, and the wrapper was perfectly cooked.

One of the standout aspects of our visit was the exceptional service from Jeff, our server, who was incredibly helpful, friendly, and attentive. He guided us through the menu with expertise. We also had the pleasure of exchanging words with the manager, Robert.

We had a wonderful dining experience and can’t wait to try others on the menu, which we can recommend. ——————- 12/26/24 Inspired by the vibrant flavors of Shanghai street food, Ugly Dumpling is a popular restaurant chain that serves traditional as well as modern Chinese cuisine. Located at the former site of Dragonfly Restaurant & Bar inside Aviation Plaza in Linden, I came to this establishment for takeout as a first-timer.

Recently opened, and upon arrival, I was greeted by Giselle. Their interior was nicely laid out, well-lit, simple, with a modern flair of Asian vibe. There was plenty of room, and the tables were not right on top of each other. One can see how the dumplings are made behind a clear glass enclosure.

Their menu features a variety of dim sums, soup dumplings, wontons, noodles, and greens.

I decided on the pork soup dumplings, which are obviously a must, and scallion pancakes. The sauces that came with each dish were the perfect combination.

The food presentation was simple, clean, and absolutely amazing. The pancakes were crispy, crunchy, and not greasy, just the way I like them. The dumplings were house-made, the liquid held beautifully, and it tasted amazing with a nice ginger kick. The price was a bit steep but well worth it for the delicious meal, which I...

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ugly Dumpling - Linden Visited on: 7/5/25

Food: I ordered edamame and the pork soup dumplings. I found that while the edamame was technically cooked, it felt as if it was just barely passing that threshold based on my experience of eating edamame in other restaurants.

The pork soup dumplings tasted amazing, no complaints there. The soup was very flavorful and the meat tastes delicious.

I also had a lychee martini - it was fine, just standard.

Unfortunately, the rest of the folks at my table did not have as great of an experience with their food - one person ordered a soup noodle bowl…that didn’t have any soup? More about the food below.

Service: The staff were friendly but I felt that the service was a bit unusual.

For some reason, my partner’s food came out unusually early compared to the rest of the table - it felt as if the food wasn’t freshly cooked but instead was scooped out of a pot whenever someone wanted that order (rice w/shrimp). They noted that it wasn’t very warm.

When we ordered our table’s dumplings, for some reason, the person who brought us the dumplings took the lid off and just took it away, allowing the heat to escape. Seemed unusual as that is not a typical experience ordering dumplings at other locations.

The server we had for the table overall was very nice. No complaints about Kevin, Kevin was a very kind person.

Ambiance: It’s very cozy inside and very spacious. 5/5 for the ambiance. Location has a very cozy vibe. It was a bit warm inside though - not sure if the AC was off or the thermostat was set higher than usual.

Cleanliness: It was very clean for the most part! The women’s bathroom had a messy stall but I would attribute that more to customers more than the actual location.

Tables, the overall venue, was very clean.

Value: I think for what I expect to pay, the value is fair. However the small quirks mentioned above need to be addressed to make me comfortable in staying it’s worth the price compared to their sister location in Edison.

Would I return? Unlikely. I personally liked my soup dumplings and drink. Wasn’t feeling great about the table edamame. The rest of the table did not have such a great time. We also noticed that all 4 of us were not feeling well once we got home - the only thing we ate prior was the food from this location. Maybe it was the heat? We can’t say for sure but didn’t make the case for this location, personally speaking.

I see that the owner does check feedback - my hope is, is that some of the above information is considered and that future reviews show that these issues have been addressed. Maybe in 6 months I will return and do a follow up review! I think there is hope with some tweaks, I would recommend that the owner and staff, if they haven’t already, visit the Edison location as the collective table consensus is that we had a much better...

For us, this Asian eatery is simply amazing! From the start, we love the out of this world synergy we have received from the hostesses, the waitress, referring to Monica, the bar tender, and the entire restaurant crew really.

Let us next address the interior design. It is giving Asian inspired and evokes a somewhat jazz contemporary feel that is quite minimalistic in our opinion. Yet, we love it and are compelled to take so many pictures than usual at our expense and your visual gain. We cannot say the same thing for the exterior; it is unbearably rustic.

Next, we must address our culinary experience here. We sadly are served with a set of very cold boneless ribs. We mention to the diners at the table that with us we normally request to converse with the executive chef. Unbeknownst to us, what we share inspires one of the diners to actually speak up and tell the waitress about the less than desirable experience, which we shall add was professionally handled and quickly replaced at the venue's expense. Though, we have a replaced dish that is properly served but has more bones than the first dish. Other than that, their food eats well. There is a slight greasy taste that can be abated depending on your choice of sauce(s); or not. Most of their sauces are very salty, which is concerning sense the dishes are already salted. We shall mention that Ugly Dumplings have one of the best service times in dining history; they are the "McDonald's" of culinary experiences. Though their menu prices are reasonably inexpensive, you will be fooled by the portion size to price ratio. They do allow you to gain points for your purchased experience. They recommend you use the same card for maximum benefit.

Lastly, we love the preparers sequestered midway and rear from the hostess service desk. Should you wish, you can watch your meal get prepared literally right before your eyes; just that you have to stand quite a distance away from where you are originally seated. There is a somewhat large exclusive seating available by request or by need. We recommend you book it first based on your current need(s). We are surprised that most if not all the restaurants we have gone to do not know the station their music plays from.

■A Quyloon Reese Report on Experiences & Custom (QR-REC)®: •Food: 75/100 (little greasy and sauces too salty) •Portion to Cost Ratio: 35/100 (very little) •Comfortable: 85/100 (aisles are a bit tight) •Hospitality (Staff): 95/100 (amazing but do not know their music) •Clean: 85/100 (not including restrooms; needs better exterior layout and appropriate landscaping) Overall Score: 375/500 (75%) ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 🔵GOAL: "Our intent is to design innovative expository to provide daunting critiques that command attention and force heads to turn...