Ugly Dumpling — Restaurant in Newark

Love the modern restaurant decor… agree with the many low star reviews on poor service and inexperienced/unprofessional restaurant staff. We were greeted immediately by the welcoming hostess and seated at a table right away. Unfortunately, our waiter was MIA for almost 15 minutes before another table’s waitress thought to ask if we had been waited on yet.

The food was subpar and overpriced given the small portion sizes, which is ironic when the 1st thing our MIA waiter highlighted was that many entrees are considered shareable plates LOL. The sesame noodles were akin to an appetizer portion, overly cooked, borderline mushy, and overdressed in sauce; very underwhelming.

Their so-called signature dish Orange Chicken did not come with rice and they tack on a $3 charge for a small bowl of rice, which is absurd, when most Chinese restaurants provide for free as a common staple with the main entree. They also don’t have dumpling sauce, except for soy sauce and vinegar.

Wonton soup broth was super oily and the orange chicken was undercooked / chewy as a few pieces were still pink inside when you cut the chicken in half; huge food poisoning concern there. I lost my appetite after realizing I was eating undercooked chicken.

Cleanliness: When the waiter brought our glasses of water over, there was a recent brown liquid stain on the glass which indicated it was not clean. The soup ladles also had faint food stains.

We noticed that the waitstaff not only took orders but also cleared the tables and put the dirty dishes away, which is not sanitary if they are also bringing your drinks, food, etc.

When we asked for our bill, the waiter handed us his order tablet. Again not ideal as this is not sanitary to handle when the waiter is clearing tables and taking orders, then bringing us our drinks. Lots of germs on that tablet.

Due to the terrible, inattentive service and subpar Chinese food with borderline food poisoning concerns, we are disappointed with this poorly run restaurant and will not be coming back, nor will we recommend it to family, friends, and coworkers. Too many good Chinese eateries next door which have better quality food, superior service, and better management with people that actually care about giving a good food experience to patrons.

Ugly Dumpling is an ugly representation and false advertising of good, authentic chinese food. It’s a franchise chain with overpriced menu items and bad customer service. What a disappointment, as we were excited to have a new establishment in the area...

I love this place, we actually went twice in one weekend. The restaurant is decorated in a way that really helps dampen sounds in the room, so even when the dining area is packed, it’s never overly-loud.

The furniture is still nice and new, and overall the restaurant looks and smells clean and inviting. The servers and wait staff are all polite and calm, even when things are busy.

The food is so good, the string beans are one of the best things on the menu, along with the steamed BBQ Pork Buns, stir fried noodles, and vegetable fried rice. I would also recommend the cucumber salad because it’s super chilled and refreshing, so it breaks up the flavors as a nice reset while you’re picking between plates.

We haven’t tried anything we didn’t love yet. The best part is that the food just tastes fresh and well-prepared. Even when we cleared our table, we didn’t have that gross heavy feeling that you typically get with fried or “heavy” foods - like if you went out for wings or burgers. Even though everything here has a rich flavor, it doesn’t settle badly, and I’m someone who has digestive issues.

Also, the price is fantastic. Two of us usually split 6-7 plates and for the type of atmosphere and service you get, we expected to pay way more than we did and thought maybe the bill had a typo at first. Everything was fine though, so we went back two days later because we couldn’t stop thinking about the steamed buns and string beans. You could easily follow a tighter budget per person here than we did.

Parking is easy enough if you drive past the restaurant and make a right into the back lot. It is paid parking but it’s very easy to access and the walk to the restaurant only takes a couple of minutes.

Edit: sooo the day I left this review, we actually ordered delivery from here. The food arrived in amazing condition, the takeaway packaging is so cute, and we had ZERO issues. I wish they had to-go packets of the chili oil, that’s my...

In the bustling heart of culinary delight that is Ugly Dumpling, where steam curls from bamboo baskets like whispered secrets and each bite tells a story of East-meets-West inventiveness, it was not only the food that left a lasting impression—but the grace, poise, and unflappable excellence of one server in particular: William.

From the moment we were seated, William transcended the conventional expectations of restaurant service and instead offered a hospitality experience that felt almost curatorial in nature. His knowledge of the menu was encyclopedic, yet never performative; his recommendations bespoke not only familiarity, but a genuine enthusiasm for the culinary craft unfolding from the kitchen. When describing the intricacies of the truffle and aged soy dumplings, or the unlikely harmony between Peking duck and hoisin plum drizzle, he did so with a reverence that mirrored a sommelier presenting a rare vintage.

Yet it was not merely his knowledge that stood out—it was his timing, attentiveness, and unfailing intuition. Water glasses were replenished before we could register the need; dishes arrived with seamless choreography; and subtle cues—be they a lingering glance at the wine list or the mere hint of indecision—were met with anticipatory grace. William possesses that rare gift: the ability to be omnipresent without ever imposing, attentive without ever hovering.

Even amid the clamor of a full house, he maintained a calm elegance, weaving through tables with the precision of a practiced conductor, ensuring each guest felt singularly seen and expertly cared for. By the end of the meal, we left not only sated in appetite but buoyed in spirit, quietly marveling at how a dining experience could be so elevated by the quiet mastery of one individual.

To dine at Ugly Dumpling is a treat in itself. But to be served by William? That is a privilege worth seeking out...