Dumpling Panda - Miramar — Restaurant in Miramar

As someone still chasing the soup dumpling high I hit in Tokyo, my search in Miami and Broward has been... underwhelming. But then I found Dumpling Panda in Miramar, and things started looking up. Is it Tokyo-level? Not quite. But it’s the closest I’ve come so far—and I’ve kissed a lot of dumpling frogs to get here.

First impression: the staff was super friendly and seated us right away. I did a double-take when I saw the self-ordering kiosks and a sign that said “Order Here,” but for dine-in, you actually get full table service. So don’t panic, just sit tight and someone will come to you.

We kicked things off with the Spring Rolls, Pan Fried Pork Dumplings, Steamed Beef Dumplings, and of course, the holy grail: Pork Xiao Long Bao.

Let’s start with the spring rolls. They were... okay. The veggie filling wasn’t finely chopped, and it felt a little skimpy. Honestly, we could’ve skipped them. But the dumplings? Much better. Both pork and beef were juicy, flavorful, and generously filled. And the star of the meal—the Xiao Long Bao—finally gave me a taste of what I’ve been missing. The soup-to-filling ratio was spot on, the pork was savory, and the wrapper was nice and thin, though the top knot was a bit thick. Still, I didn’t hesitate to order a second round.

For dessert, we ordered the Mochi Donuts, and they arrived warm, delicious, and covered in a warm hazelnut drizzle with powdered sugar. Julie loved them... right up until she realized they weren’t shaped like pandas or dumplings. A tragic oversight if you're eight and have expectations. But even without the cutesy factor, they were a win.

And speaking of pandas, this place is covered in them. Pandas in paintings, pandas on shelves, pandas chilling in weird corners. Julie treated it like a scavenger hunt, and honestly, I did too.

Final call: If you’re in South Florida and looking for solid soup dumplings, Dumpling Panda is officially worth the stop. It may not transport you across the globe, but it’s a delicious...

Dumpling Panda in Miramar is the mothership where all the dumplings are made for the three locations, and it’s the one to visit if you want the full experience. The Fort Lauderdale location came second, and the Boca Raton outpost, which shares space with Zuru Ramen (this location adjoins one), doesn’t always have the full menu, so Miramar is the best bet.

The Xiaolongbao soup dumplings are excellent—better than Dumpling King and Serious Dumplings. They have thin skins, a ginger-forward broth, and were so good we ate them plain without vinegar or soy. Next time we’ll try the crab/pork and chicken varieties.

The hot and sour soup was another standout, easily the best I’ve had locally: light, not cornstarch-thickened, packed with mushrooms, seemingly vegan, and with a sharp pepper-vinegar balance that makes it craveable on its own.

We had the vegetable pan-fried dumplings, which were tasty but basic—mostly just cabbage. Dumpling King does a better version with chives and glass noodles. We also ordered the Sichuan dumplings, but they came overcooked and falling apart, so I swapped them out for pan-fried pork dumplings. Those were much better, with a nice crisp edge and savory filling, though again Dumpling King’s are bigger, juicier, and benefit from their thicker skins.

We also tried the Kung Pao shrimp, which impressed me—sautéed shrimp in a spicy, vinegar-bright sauce with cabbage, carrots, dried chilies, and peanuts, much closer to Sichuan style than the usual gloppy version. The wok menu includes more Americanized dishes like General Tso’s, Mongolian beef, and chicken and broccoli, clearly catering to a wider crowd, but if the Kung Pao is any indicator they can do them justice.

Overall, Dumpling Panda excels at the soup dumplings and hot and sour soup, and while not every dumpling hit the mark, the Miramar location is worth the trip if you want the full range of...

I was surprised to find that Dumpling Panda was also owned by the owners of Zuru right next door. I was always truly okay with the food served at Zuru, but I was knocked out with the food at Dumpling Panda. The dining area is a bit small inside, but although full for a Monday at noon, we were able to find indoor seating easily. The dining area is clean and the servers are attentive to the needs of the patrons. No complaints here. The ordering experience is seamless; you scan the QR code on the table and order your food on the phone and you pay ahead. I love restaurants that do this so you aren't caught in the limbo waiting for the check at the end. We had the Xiaolongbao Soup Dumplings, Scallion Pancake, Spring Rolls and the Vegetable Fried Rice. The dumplings cannot be missed and are a must. The thin wrapper used for the dumplings were delightful and acted as an excellent vessel for the soup and pork inside. That along with the Szechuan Chili Sauce and Green Chili Sauce made the experience a 10/10. The scallion pancake was flakey and chewy and among the most delicious I've had this far compared to other restaurants. The spring rolls were pretty standard across other asian eateries I've visited but still crunchy with an excellent vegetable filling. The fried rice was equally great and flavorful. Good fried rice I feel is hard to come by in South Florida. The only complaint I have is that it had mushrooms, since I'm not usually accustomed to mushrooms in fried rice, but knowing this, I'll order it...