Reviewing Dumpling King: A simple Chinese restaurant in Houston.

Dumpling King opened in the 1980s and has solidified itself as a Houston institution. It is a popular family-owned restaurant run by couple Janisse and Han Kim. They are open daily, except Sundays. They serve a variety of authentic Chinese dumplings including those with beef, chicken, or pork filling. Other dishes include scallion pancakes, fried rice, noodles, and sesame chicken. Each offering is made with its own secret recipe. The prices are very reasonable, especially with how big the portions are. If you are not in the mood to dine in, you can buy their housemade dumplings frozen to cook at home. The many devoted customers who have gone here for years still sing its praises.

Dumpling King’s sign outside is noticeable, but not too flashy. This restaurant is located along a strip of stores next to an apartment complex. It has a modest look on both the outside and inside. It is not a particularly fancy or upscale establishment, with its quiet and cozy atmosphere. The walls are decorated with Chinese cultural landmarks. The vibe immediately exudes an aura of well-prepared Chinese cuisine and is a great place for individual and small party visits. Patrons come from all walks of life to enjoy the food prepared at Dumpling King, traveling from nearby and far away.

I will admit I am a frequent customer of Dumpling King. I have been going here since I was a young child, about three or four years of age. I continue coming back, as I have never left dissatisfied. Their recipes have not changed much since then either, with the beef dumplings tasting as they did 20+ years ago. My parents will second this, claiming that their first encounter tastes the exact same as now, made with the same tenderness since they opened.

During my most recent visit, I ordered both steamed beef and chicken dumplings. Each bite was extremely delicious. The dough was incredibly soft, moist, and flavorful and the meat was spiced nicely, moist, and tender. The beef dumplings had a bit of a stronger taste to them, while the chicken had a milder flavor. The dough on the steamed dumplings also has a very subtle sweetness to it with no crispiness, unlike the pan-fried ones. The usual pairings offered for them are ground ginger, green chili pepper, red chili pepper, soy sauce, oil, and vinegar.

The service is efficient, welcoming, and organized. The servers at Dumpling King are knowledgeable on questions, and several have even worked there for years. The restaurant is small, which allows for every patron to receive adequate attention. It’s also a plus that the staff always communicates the estimated time it takes to send an order to a table.