Dumpling Time presents Asian dishes reimagined with local, California ingredients in a playful, fine-casual atmosphere. Since Dumpling Time’s inception in 2017, co-founder Kash Feng has led the thoughtful expansion of the beloved concept, a part of the Omakase Restaurant Group, that now counts five locations in California’s Bay Area, with more to come.
The selection of mouth-water dumplings are designed to be filling-forward and handmade with an emphasis on flavor, high quality ingredients and freshness. Signature offerings include crispy gyoza filled with seafood, pork or chicken, pan-seared bao filled with chicken or pork, Xi’an boiled dumplings, and xiao long bao (XLB) soup dumpllings. In addition to handmade dumplings, the menu highlights vegetable dishes such as sautéed and gingered snap peas, garlicky green beans, shrimp toast, and hand-cut noodles. All Dumpling Time locations offer an array of beer, California wines and sake, while some of the locations offer full bar service.
Designed by Aya Yanagisawa, Dumpling Time’s locations are united in their casual atmosphere envisioned in a bold, playful palette. Pops of neon, leafy plants and street art-inspired murals give Dumpling Time a vibrant, urban feel that pays homage to Asia’s night markets and street vendor culture.
Really happy DT opened in San Ramon. We've been to the San Jose location many times and it's always a good option. The service was great, food came out quickly and hot, and the flavors were there.
Recommend the pan seared bbq pork bao, waygu beef gyoza, and chili dumplings. Cucumber salad and garlic green beans are solid starters.
Good atmosphere for groups or casual date night. Servers and management go the extra mile to ensure you have a great experience. Will be back soon.
Alright, the reviews from my fellow Asians here need to chill out, as they don't understand the assignment when eating at, and reviewing, Dumpling Time.
Is this place going to beat all the local Cantonese dim sum places? No
But that's not the point - this place isn't that type of place. Just like is Curry Up Now going to serve the most authentic Vindaloo or Poppadoms? No
You go to Curry Up Now to eat Indian food for the same reasons you come to Dumpling Time to eat dumplings. It's tasty but it's certainly not the most legit or authentic, but that's fine. Because parking is easy at City Center, you're with your hungry kids and you don't have time to take a number and wait an hour like at Koi Palace, and you're in and out in less than an hour.
We got the siu mai, shrimp toast, spicy rice noodles, gyoza, and jellyfish. Everything was pretty tasty. But yes, skip the XLB if you're expecting Din Tai Fung quality. And honestly, if you were, then why did you come here?
For people complaining about the living wage, that's unfounded as it's expensive to run a restaurant in the Bay Area. Minimum wage is over $15/hr now. And if you complain that the prices are high, then you are furthering the unfair stereotype that Asian places are supposed to be cheap. Like ramen can't be more than $15/bowl and pho is a cheap person's food.
Come here because you need a quick dumping fix. It's fine for that.
Dumpling Time is my new favorite addition to the City Center in San Ramon! They specialize in traditional Asian dishes with a fusion touch. My party and I came on opening day. Right when they opened we were greeted by the friendly workers and seated immediately. The establishment has plenty of staff that are constantly checking on the tables and the service is quick as well.
We ordered the bbq pork buns, beijing noodles, chicken gyoza, XLB, wood ear mushrooms, cucumber salad and chili pork dumplings.
Our favorites were:
Bbq pork buns- so soft and pillowy with high quality tasting meat inside
XLB- so much soup inside and the dumplings melt in your mouth
Wood ear mushrooms- they were coated in the most incredible chili sauce
For those with nut allergies!!! : they fry their peanuts in the same oil as their other deep fried items so AVOID ORDERING THOSE
Most of the dishes are small (not enough to share with 4 people) so if you're with a larger party I would order multiple of each item. I also asked for their "King Dum" (the giant soup dumpling) but they said those are sadly exclusive to certain locations.
Overall, I'm definitely looking forward to returning and exploring their dessert items!!!
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