4. Restaurants

East Dumpling House

12 N Washington Ave,Ste 14G, Rockville, MD, 20850
  • (301) 762-6200
  • Store is closed

East Dumpling House Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 11428 Rockville Pike )

Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 11428 Rockville Pike )

  • Amber F.

    This place has some pretty good northern-chinese style cuisine and is quite unique in the DMV area. The dumplings tasted super fresh, and the filling was flavorful. Personally, I don't think their dumplings are quite as good as China Bistro's dumplings, but consider all the other dishes that they offer, I would definitely come back. Their kabobs are surprisingly good! They're the northern-chinese styled kabobs. I had those when I was studying abroad in China, and the seasoning they use definitely smells authentic. I prefer the beef kabob, but my friends also highly recommend the lamb kabob if you like lamb. Other side dishes were pretty good too - I don't remember the name, but this jelly like cold noodle side dish was amazing! It's a bit sour, mixed with cilantro, cucumber and carrots. It was refreshing! I heard they handmake their noodle dishes. I will be back for those when it is a bit colder outside!!

    (4)

  • Maxine D.

    Last nights shenanigan includes one of the best dumpling house in DC. Their chicken popcorn is unapologetic to western taste buds, there's no compromise just plain old seasoning, and a lot of spice. It numbs the tongue on every bite without the burning sensation. The pork hotpot which includes mushrooms (maitake I believe), celery, tofu, and pork are on point. The eggplant on garlic you asked? The best!! You've worked hard all week and you deserve a little pampering so go out there and have a good weekend!

    (5)

  • Bobby L.

    The only positive aspect is that it is relatively cheap. Not like many of the other places where the food is bad and overpriced. Here the food is not good but at least the prices are not ridiculous. I am still sticking with Michaels Noodles in North Potomac. The difference is like day & night.

    (1)

  • Hannah H.

    About a 2-2.5: The hubs and I came to check out East Dumpling House for an early dinner. Situated in a small plaza off of Washington, there was already a queue of parties at the door, waiting to be seated. Since it was just the 2 of us, we were seated within 10 minutes (first, way in the back, and and they had us move to a better table after that party finished up). The menu is quite extensive, including appetizers, soups, fried rice, lo mein, Chinese kabob/skewers, cold/hot entrees, dumplings, pork/beef/chicken/seafood/vegetarian dishes, hot pot, and lunch specials. We tried a Lamb Kabob (did not have a game-y taste to it, but it was slightly bland, considering the amount of spices on it), a Beef Kabob (slightly better than the Lamb Kabob, this was a little more flavorful and more juicier; I still wasn't much of a fan of the coating of the spices), an order of the Pork Chives Dumpling (they automatically come steamed, but you can request them to be pan-fried (which we did); these were were just okay - the meat filling was on the smaller side, and there was plenty of juicy within; however, I've had better)), Vegetable Steamed Dumplings (we both were not fans of these, as it had a very potent mushroom taste to them and just way too 'earthy'), a Braised Pork in Brown Sauce with Chinese Mushrooms and String Beans (off the menu and needs to be specially requested; we were not fans of this hot pot either; I did pick out the string beans and dipped them into the watered down soy sauce; the cellophane noodles and the braised (steamed) sliced pork belly) in the gelatinous type of brown sauce was just not appetizing nor tasty at all). I was definitely disappointed with the soy sauce, as even though they had an alternative to the dumpling sauce, it was just extremely watered down. Service was friendly and sweet, but the place does get quite jam-packed and hectic. I'm glad I was able to try this place out, but don't think I'll be back! +underwhelming dumplings T___T +watered down soy sauce T___T +friendly staff +free 2-hour parking with validation +limited metered street parking

    (3)

  • Matthew S.

    If you want a dinner size portion of RACISM and stand around all day for a takeout order that should only take five minutes - even when you call it in one day prior - then this is the place for you. I watched people getting served before me who ordered way after I walked in the door. If you are not of Chinese decent, enjoy your seat in the back of the bus. Hell will open up a ski resort long before I ever go back to this place.

    (1)

  • Lan T.

    I was craving dim sum and this was the only place that seemed to offer dim sum aside from A&J. I've been to A&J a few times so I wanted to try something new. This place is in a small plaza. You have to take a ticket to enter the parking lot, but they validate parking for up to 2 hours. I ordered the house dumplings and the pork rib soup. I thought the dumplings were ok. I'm not that crazy about the thick dumpling wrapper. I like the thinner wrappers. However, one of my friends told me that different regions in China use different styles of wrappers. What I really loved was the pork spare rib noodle soup. That was AMAZING!!! The meat fell off the bone so easily. The serving was huge too! I had to take it home and it lasted for 2 more meals lol!

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    This place is small yet cozy. It has a welcome feeling to it. For a place that is smaller than other places it sure does pack a punch with food full of flavor and service that is polite attentive. I know I'll be back, for more of what I had and to try stuff that I hadn't. I went here today with some friends for late breakfast, early lunch. We were seated immediately upon arrival since we were the first people there at opening time. Server took out drink orders while giving us menus. The menu is of good size and had lots to offer. I think this place is known for their dumplings so we had to try them. We started off with vegetable spring rolls which were hit and crispy. Always a crowd pleaser. Then we had the steamed dumplings. Each order had 12 pieces and we got several different types. Shrimp with chicken and chives, mushroom, shrimp with corn and chives, and another shrimp filled type dumpling. We also got the Mongolian beef. The dumplings were excellent. I'd never had better tasting steamed dumplings with such good flavor. All were stuffed and perfectly made. My favorite were the mushroom and the shrimp and corn with chives. The Mongolian beef was excellent. Best flavor I have had for this dish. It was seasoned well and wasn't too saucy. I would have ordered another one if I weren't so stuffed after eating everything. The dining experience here was wonderful. From the outside you wouldn't expect such great tasting food. If you love dumplings, give this place a try! Thank you for reading my review. This review is based off of my personal opinion and experience.

    (4)

  • Cat L.

    4 stars for food, 2 stars for service. This place serves up some delicious Chinese food, but it's tiny, understaffed, and incredibly disorganized. I would not recommend coming here if you expect traditional table service and are not comfortable walking up to the servers for your requests. Or, try coming here during non-peak hours so you have a better chance of getting served in a relatively prompt fashion. I came here on a Saturday night with a group of 4 and was seated immediately, although guests who arrived after us had to pull together tables outside to make more space. There were three servers responsible for running the entire place; there were so many guests moving around the crammed space either attempting to order, pick up take-out, or pay their check that things quickly got chaotic. We had to be aggressive in standing up to get someone's attention for water or place our order. We ordered a vermicelli pancake, house dumplings, pork napa dumplings, beef noodle soup, and zha jiang noodles. The house dumplings were delicious, but a little pricey at $9 for 12 pieces. I really liked the beef noodle soup because it wasn't spicy at all and came with loads of beef chunks. I thought that the zhajiang noodles were the best part of the meal - at $7, the noodles were fresh and cooked to the perfect texture. As for the bubble tea, the black milk tea was good but the bubbles were a little soft and overcooked. I would come back here again during a less busy time to try other kinds of dumplings as well as the kabobs. I would definitely not come here with more than 4 people, as sitting together at a table would be next to impossible.

    (3)

  • Duc D.

    I'm going to preface my review with a few notable facts: 1. My friends and I were out snowboarding the entire day and had only a few Gatorade's and a smattering fries and chicken tenders about 7 hours beforehand. 2. We originally intended to go to Bobs Shanghai 66 for soup dumplings, which we all craved the entire day. 3. We were driving home in some of the worst possible road conditions I've ever seen in the area. 4. We were desperate for food. Any food. We we railroaded as most places (even Bobs) were closed due to the snow. Side note: what Chinese restaurant in the history of all Chinese restaurants ever closes for inclement weather? Seriously? That being said, the food here was SUPER legit, bearing in mind those aforementioned facts. We ordered a bevy of things. The 4 lamb kabobs were warm, tender and delicious with the right amount of charcoally smokiness to them. The homemade crystal wide noodles were interesting. They were served cold, had a good texture and appearance but were definitely my least favorite dish. The vermicelli pancakes were a nice crusty welcome treat. They have a hint of sourness to them but are delicious. We also ordered the house dumplings and the pork chive dumplings. Both appeared to have overcooked and mushy looking outer skin, but they were surprisingly chewy and filled with large chunks of meat. The pork chive ones were my preference. Then there's the Szechuan style handmade noodles with spicy pork and sauce. Fucking fantastic! It was spicy, the noodles thick and chewy, had big chunks of pork in it and was the perfect dish for slurping up in large chopstick fulls. We shared a large bowl among the 4 of us...then got another bowl. It was that good. I would probably go back just for this dish. Highly recommended. Our service was outstanding, contrary to what others have mentioned. The prices were really good. The nice lady that took our orders seemed quite amused by us and even engaged in some small talk as we were deciding on our dishes (probably because she saw potential of a feast bonanza and tip coming her way). She told use to stay away from page 3 of the menu, as it was Americanized Chinese food (fried rice, lo mein, beef broccoli, etc), and told us we made very good choices in the end. She also informed us that contrary to what many believe, the restaurant has a heavy influence from Mongolia and that most of their staff was Mongolia and a more of a fusion of both countries. Good to know. Other than that, the place was a bit drafty and the menus were sticky. I don't feel I'd normally give this place 4 stars so I'll have to try coming back for an updated when I'm not feeling like such a rabid and ravenous dog.

    (4)

  • Kara Y.

    We come here for one reason and one reason only: lamb meat kabobs! Everytime we come here, it's the first thing we order and always crave for when thinking about this restaurant. Make sure to ask for it on the spicier side and you'll be set. Their dumplings are also pretty decent (though I still like Mama's dumplings better) and I love the texture of their noodles, especially in the beef noodle soup (though that itself could use more flavor I feel like). Their cucumber salad also makes for a good starter, with that intense garlic/chili oil drizzled on top. Make sure to stop by here if you happen to be near RTC!

    (4)

  • Anika G.

    This place is really good. Is it AS good as China Bistro? I didn't think so, but the friend I went with said she liked East Dumpling more. We ordered soups and two lunch specials. This turned out to be an enormous amount of food. The best dish were the chicken and mushroom dumplings. I don't eat pork, so one of the sad things about China Bistro (also a hotspot) is that I can't get their delicious spiced pork dumplings. These hit the spot, and were absolutely spectacular. My friend tried the pan fried pork dumplings, and she said they were really flavorful and rich. The rest of the food was not at the same high level. The hot and sour soup, while tasty and beautiful (an odd thing to say about a soup, but this one was beautiful) was neither hot nor sour enough for my taste. We ordered a chicken and broccoli, which is a somewhat pedestrian item no matter where you get it (I imagine). I also tried the Chinese potato salad. This is an incredibly creative dish made from shaved carrot and potato. I liked it, but again, I wouldn't have minded a bit more spice or another kind of flavor. My friend ordered a tofu broth soup that came in an enormous bowl with lettuce and chunks of tofu. She added a bit of chili and it was excellent (and a great lighter option for people who are watching carbs!) Overall, I thought the food was quite good, and the prices can't be beat. (Our total bill was under $25). I would definitely recommend it if you're in the area. The quantity of food they give you is really impressive - it's a total feast.

    (4)

  • Valerie H.

    This is one of my favorite Chinese places in the area. I love their Szechuan homemade noodles and pork. Their homemade tofu dish is delicious! it's a small cute restaurant, and the wait is always worth it for me. I prefer this over China Bistro any day.

    (5)

  • Nick S.

    Can't stop eating the spicy boiled fish and cold lift noodles (I'm pretty sure that's not what it's supposed to be called in mandarin). They have other great dishes there but I'm just so addicted to these that we can seldom order anything else. I think my girlfriend is starting to get mad about it. One night I drove all the way up there from Tyson's Corner (where I live) in heavy traffic just to get boiled fish. Yeah, it's a small restaurant, sometimes you have to wait, etc. I've never seen favoritism given to anyone. It appears to be first come first serve but you've got to make yourself known to the servers so they know you are in line.

    (5)

  • Nisha B.

    Dumplings were over or under cooked. Hard to tell because the crust was so hard and felt undercooked. Ordered the popcorn chicken- was so salty I think I need a detox. Service was average. I moved here from Los Angeles so when someone says dumpling house I imagine din tai fung. This was a din tai disaster. Not coming back for sure!

    (2)

  • Kathleen A.

    Went there with group of four people for lunch one Friday around 1. The place was pretty crowded, but luckily we were able to snag a four top right away. Our server was very friendly and gave us some time to review the menu. We got two types of dumplings to share -- one pork and one shrimp/chive. Both were really hot and fresh -- pretty much exactly what you want from a dumpling. I also had a "happy cucumber" salad, which besides having a great name, was really good and was pretty much just a guess. We got some noodles to share, which were so-so and could have been warmer temperature-wise. Overall, a fun place to change it up for lunch. I think we will be back. Prices were okay, but not nearly as good as the bahn-mi place next door which is crazy cheap.

    (4)

  • Pallabi G.

    Seems fitting that I complete my Yelp 101+ challenge with one of my new favorites in DC. So, as you all may have gathered, Sichuan is one of my favorite cuisines. I first got into it for the supreme heat way back in my highschool days, but many years, and many more restaurants later, I have come to appreciate the nuances of the flavors. My standby dish for any Sichuan restaurant is fish fillet with cabbage. While East Dumpling house may not be a Sichuan restaurant, per se, it still serves up one of my favorite versions of this dish. First off, the fish: soooo soft with just the hint of a coating and very generous in portion. Next, the veggies: somehow manage to retain their crunch and also have their own distinct flavor that adds to the dish instead of watering it down. Lastly, the portion: Enormous and definitely the best deal this side of the Beltway. They also do a decent mongolian beef here, though the sichuan spicy noodles, while deliciously smokey, could do with a little more salt. So, we didn't just go a place that has "dumpling house" and get everything but the dumplings. We tried the house special dumplings and these were little explosions of flavor in my mouth. You could almost call them soup dumplings except they were just shy of the acceptable soup level to get that title. Service was not as slow as other reviewers made it seem. We waited perhaps 10 min for our first dish and 20 min for the all the rest. The only negative thing was that the towel they used to wipe down our table reeked, and left a appetite killing smell on the table, so we had to asked them to wipe down our table again with some Windex, which they did promptly and with many an apology. It does lead one of wonder about the overall hygienic standards of the place, but seeing as my stomach has been honed on Indian street food, I'm willing to take my chances for that fish.

    (4)

  • Bear L.

    Delicious, authentic northeastern Chinese cuisine. The house dumplings and the bubble die were the highlights of my dining experience. The owner is very nice and friendly. The ambience is very intimate and sets the mood well for a Chinese meal. The only downside i can think of is limiting seating, which was not too big of an issue at all. Will definitely come back again!

    (4)

  • Luke O.

    I ordered the shrimp lo mein and it was under average with not soft enough noodles. While, the shrimp was good the veggies consisted of hard broccoli and strings of I don't know what greens. Maybe I'm too used to Americanize lo mein but I was a tad disappointed. I'll give it a second chance when I'm in the area.

    (2)

  • Jen C.

    I echo the other posts: SERVICE IS DOWNRIGHT BAD. I didn't want to believe it and thought I'd maybe get lucky, but no...it stunk. Upon entry, no one greeted us until I waved party of two a couple of times. We received menus immediately, but no one came to take our order, and it was extremely difficult to catch their attention. They were either staring at the cash register, phone or food that they were going to deliver to tables. There were only two waitresses working the entire floor/phones/takeout orders and a third waitress doing who knows what. We had to flag one down, and she came to take our order not very happily. It was really disorganized the way that they were ordering the service...seemed like they showed extra dedicated service to larger parties of Chinese speaking families.Many tables were waiting on food. It was pretty cramped inside too; I couldn't push my chair out any further cause it was touching the chair behind me. They delivered the cold appetizers very quickly (one incorrect, but corrected quickly). The potato salad was okay, but well priced ($1.99)..a little more sour and crunchy than I have had it elsewhere. Small seaweed cold plate was on expensive side ($3.99) and decent, nothing to write home about. Then, we waited quite some time for the rest to come out. The house special dumplings were tasty. What reviewers say about China Bistro having more meat is true; the meat is not as clumped there, no issues with broken dumplings...but what they do right here is the dough and the thickness is very consistent here. The steamed chicken/mushroom dumplings were my favorite part of the meal. I enjoyed the steamed texture of the dough in that, and I really liked the taste of the filling. It took forever for the beef noodle soup to come out, which you would think is the fastest item. How long does it take to cook noodles and ladle some soup?! We asked the waitress who said it would come out immediately, after telling another table she would immediately take their order. We then saw it sit on the delivery table for a few minutes before she finally "chose" to deliver our bowl to us. The portion was a pretty large bowl for $8.99. It was not heavy or greasy...lighter broth compared to A&J with a little more dimension (tip: add a little bit of the spice at the table for a kick), good meat quality and nice fresh noodles. Easily splittable amongst two people. That redeemed patience from me for another 5 minutes until it was check time. Could not flag either of them for the check, so ended up walking up to pay. At the very end, one finally perked up to refill our water, but that was the only "service" we got during our entire meal. They really need to be more efficient with their wait staff or hire more. I didn't even want to tip cause it didn't feel like we were served at ANY point. Never will I be back here to dine in unless it is empty...and may pickup carryout in the future.

    (3)

  • Wayne L.

    I heard all the best dumpling places are in Rockville and I think it's true. We had three forms of dumplings. The pan fried dumplings, hot sauce dumplings, and house special boiled dumplings. All three were delicious. The hot sauce was especially good and worth trying. The sauce was different than many other places I've had this dish and had some fresh garlic paste and the hot sauce had some crunch to it. The eggplant and basil dish was also amazingly good. I'll definitely be back here again. We came on a Saturday around 7PM and there was no wait and a few tables were open.

    (5)

  • Lisa S.

    Two different people recommended this restaurant, and so we headed here after a movie at the nearby Regal. The inside of the place is small, and I'd recommend going during an off-time or else seating will be hard to come by. Also, the lot is tiny, so I would plan to walk here, or park elsewhere (the lot near the movie theater is $1.50 on the weekends). I ordered an iced tea and a spring roll. I was craving spicy shrimp, so I ordered kung pao shrimp (without the peanuts). They only had kung pao chicken on the menu, but they agreed to put shrimp in it instead for an extra charge. My friend ordered the cucumber salad and the lo mein. She had wanted to order noodles; however, all of their noodles had meat in the sauce, and the restaurant was unable to make a vegetarian noodle dish. The iced tea, spring roll, cucumber salad, and lo mein came out within 5 minutes. The spring roll was really good and light. The cucumber salad was surprisingly tasty as well, and spicy, and I would probably get it again the next time I was here. I tasted the lo mein, and it was pretty good. We then waited, and waited, and waited, for my shrimp. It was probably 15+ minutes without any sign of it. During that time, my friend ate half of her lo mein and then stopped because she felt bad eating more. We thought they had forgotten, and tried to flag down a waitress but couldn't really get anyone. Eventually, the kung pao shrimp came out. Unfortunately, the shrimp were fried (I did not see that coming!) and a little crispy, soft, and greasy all at the same time. The dish also wasn't as spicy as I expected. I took half of the meal home, but ended up throwing out my leftovers the next day, because it just wasn't good enough to finish. We also had trouble getting our water refilled- it would take maybe 10 minutes before we could actively track someone down. We eventually got our check, and they overcharged me for an extra drink ($3-4). I had to track down the waitress, but we got it corrected eventually. Overall, the service was very slow and it was hard to get water refills. The timing was very awkward with our meals- we had probably 15-20 minutes where my friend had her food and I didn't. I didn't like my meal very much, and they overcharged me on the check. I'd probably give this place another try- it was highly recommended, and maybe I didn't order the right things or it was an off day.

    (3)

  • Stephanie L.

    I had a mixed experience. I did enjoy the shape of the soup bowls - not your usual bowl but more vase-like. We ordered the double mushroom chicken dumplings as well as the napa pork dumplings. Both nice and chewy dough and tender filling. The waitress motioned to the sauce containers on the table with a "dumpling sauce (points to one), not dumpling sauce" (points to another). With that vague introduction to the sauces, I can't even tell you what was in it. And now I'm especially curious what the "not dumpling sauce" is. The service was where the mixed part comes in. They brought out the dishes at varying times: my soup came out, then my dumplings. Then 10 minutes later my dining partner's dumplings plus soup comes out at the same time (with a plastic spoon. But mine had a nice restaurant quality spoon. Really? You can't wash one of those rather than bring a cheap spoon out?). Because they brought his soup and dumplings out at the same time, he had to sacrifice the temperature of the dumplings so he could eat his soup. It was just very odd. I'd like to try China Bistro to see how the food and service compare. I'd give this place another try, but I hope the service improves.

    (3)

  • Amanda K.

    Got the House dumplings and the pork and chive...the amount of filling compared to the amount of greasy noodle was approximately that of a mouse to an elephant. Pork tasted not like porky goodness...more like pork that was filled with porky goodness about 3 days prior. We also got a basic beef with broccoli (our standby when trying a new place...if they can't get an innocuous standard right, no way am I ordering Ma Po Tofu)... Behold. Chewy, grisly beef. A few overcooked, sad, limp vegetables scattered about (probably wondering why they were harvested for this mess). The predominant flavor was cornstarch. Move away from the doors. Run to China Bistro. Now.

    (1)

  • Angela P.

    Dumplings, small dishes. Reminds me of China bistro and AJ married into one. The dumplings here have a nice thick skin and are filled generously. How this place trumps China Bistro is that there are dumplings that are veggie and pescatarian friendly!! And the shrimp and veggie dumplings are fantastic!! Excellent sauce and spicy jiang (sauce) included. For appetizers, I tried the shredded tofu appetizer was a bit greasy and needed more umami flavor. Otherwise, very fresh and a great starter. I added some spicy jiang and it was perfect. What to try next: Kabobs. The smell and sight of them reminded me of downtown Guangzhou when middle eastern men used to sell these flavored kabobs off a cart. These kabobs are not what you would expect. They are a fusion of flavors between China and Turkey and are heavily dry-rubbed (no pun intended). They are meant to eat on the go and are delicious. Everyone there is friendly and pretty fast. Minus one star for having such a high credit minimum. Tips: validated parking (2 hours). Credit card min $10 for lunch and $25

    (4)

  • Gregorio A.

    I'm finding this to by my favorite Chinese place in the DC area. The Dan Dan Noodles and the Cold Szechuan Noodles are wonderful, complex things. The popcorn chicken is addictive -- a perfect sheen of numbing spice on a generous portion of "szechuan mcnuggets" The dumplings, ironically enough, are not fantastic, but they're good enough -- and since there are no perfect dumplings in the area, they'll have to do. All in all, a great place for DC spicy foodies.

    (5)

  • Sky O.

    I ordered their house noodle. The sauce was so-so, but the noodle was chewy. I also ordered their bubble tea...not a fan at all. Those white balls are not the regular bubbles served in other places or back home. They are juicy pops. The service was nice. They are very polite and responsive. But they do need more training and be more professional, for example: to make sure after the food is served, guests are fine with the food and everything else. The place is cramped and small. The decor is nice and seems to be clean. Everyone is here to order dumplings, I will try that next time.

    (3)

  • Sam L.

    I can definitely see why some folks won't like this place. It's tucked in a corner that is decorated like a coffee shop, but really it's a sit-down/take-out place that is a bit too small for both. The waitresses there work hard, but part of the issues has to do with the chef slowness. Some of the food took forever to come out, and while two waitresses seem to be enough for a small place like East Dumpling House, they also have to bus the tables, make drinks, jot down take-out orders, answer questions about the menu, re-arrange tables, and so on and so on. Moral of the story? Relax and chill when you come here. Kindly remind them if your food is slow - don't be nasty like the woman last night who threatened to write to BBB because 1 of the 4 dishes came slow. Seriously? As far as food quality goes, it depends on what you expect. The dumplings are a tad above average. But since I have dumplings as part of my genes, they fell below my expectation. We still finished the dumplings, but it's not the ones you get from Taiwan/Hong Kong. Maybe closer to China, where the dumpling wrapper is still rather thick. The kabobs were really good (a tad spicy, which is wonderful), and our beef stew with clear noodles was cooked really well. I'd definitely come back again, albeit during non-peak hours so our food will arrive at a reasonable time. As long as you take into account the 'reality' of East Dumpling House, rather than a standard template of a fully-staffed restaurant, then you'd have a good time.

    (4)

  • john b.

    I found their pork chive dumplings to be just as good as China Bistro. Of course its been a while since I've been to China Bistro (which turned me away saying they were closed (I got there 30 minutes before their posted closing hour)). Having made the journey all the way from VA, I was a little bummed. Anyways, East Dumpling House had some good decent pork chive dumplings and they seem a bit cheaper than China bistro. I'll definitely have to get there earlier and do a direct comparison next time.

    (4)

  • Zara K.

    This place is three stars but I'm giving it four stars because it has Hope Also their water boiled fish was very tasty, it was not watery it was rather thick (corn starch) but it worked, especially if you like me eat this fish frequently you want to switch up the flavours sometimes! The amount of fish was very very generous and I also loved the vegetables they used My husband got the seaweed salad it was nice and basic the way seaweed should be! They were open all day on Christmas Day which I greatly appreciate, it's not easy working on a holiday and they worked very hard so Thankyou Very Much!! The eggplant appetizer and dumplings we had later that day(we wanted to go there again to see what else they have because the fish was excellent!) the eggplant appetizer was good so was the complimentary wide clear noodles (they are sour) only issue I have with everything I ate here was the excessive salt ...: and I have never had to complain about salt but this place needs to take it easy and it will definitely be much much much better!(especially since all the regular Chinese spots are going downhill) Sadly, the dumplings are very sad. They lack Flavour to the max, they are nt made with the same finesse as they should and the pan fried ones use up way too much oil. You really can't compare then to China Bistro in any way there really is no comparison. China bistros are fluffy and professional and Flavourful. These are flat tasteless and a little depressing. Definitely go to try out their other entrees but stay away from the dumplings!

    (4)

  • Fenny L.

    It's a little known fact, but my brother subsided on dumplings and Snickers for 3 years while in HS. It was also when he was at his thinnest. I think we should come up with a new diet fad and become rich. But I digress. My brother and I are huge dumpling fanatics, and we love love love Mama Dumpling (oops, I mean "China Bistro"), however there is always such a long wait, and sometimes, they are sold out. So imagine our delight when East Dumpling House opened up!!! OK - the space is tiny, and parking is sucky. But if you let small tables and lack of parking keep you from eating delicious dumplings, than I don't think I want to know you. When they first opened up, there were over 30+ types of dumplings. Since then, they have streamlined their menu down to 15 - 20 dumplings, which makes getting your order faster, and they've kept all of the really great dumplings, including the lamb and carrot dumpling. Taste-wise, it's great! The dumplings are plump and the flavors are great! I love that they make all the dumplings fresh to order (this is why there tends to be a line/wait), and the other items on the menu are great (just don't ask me what they are, because I am fixated on the dumplings). ******************** Now, normally, I'm not a fan of comparing two similar restaurants against each other, as I think each have their own charms and style. However, as East Dumpling House is so close to Mama Dumpling ("China Bistro") and both of their speciality (and main draw) are their dumplings, I'll do a quick comparison: Mama Dumpling dumplings are a little more expensive (by $1 per plate), BUT their dumplings are also bigger than East Dumpling House. So you are getting what you're paying for. East Dumpling House has more varieties of dumpling, including fish and lamb; however Mama Dumplings will do random "special"/off-menu dumplings, which is a nice change up. Both places have terrible parking, but like I said, if you let something as simple as parking (just park across the street for goodness sake) deter you from eating, than you deserve to be hungry. The service is about the same at both locations, but I will say that the cashiers at East Dumpling House tend to growl at me less. Not that it matters. Like I keep saying, I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to EAT. The flavors differ slightly; Mama D's is more umami...but East D has better sauces to balance that. My brother tends to like Mama Dumpling more, my husband likes East Dumpling better. Me? I don't really care. Honestly, I'm just so glad that I don't have to make or cook my own dumplings that I'll take either one. Both are delicious, there really is no loser.

    (4)

  • Miss R.

    I like these dumplings SO much better than the ones at China Bistro. They are bigger and more flavorful. The filling is not minced as heavily so you get both the flavor and the texture. I had a shrimp egg roll that was also very good (a little greasy, but it was fresh and piping hot!). The service was also better than China Bistro. They were polite but not pushy. I didn't like that they served me green tea in a paper cup with a tea bag. I can get that from the store on my own. I was really hoping for some authentic Chinese loose leaf green tea. This was not it. The restaurant was a little cramped, but I was dining solo, so it wasn't too big of an issue.. I'll definitely be returning for another order (or 2) of those dumplings!

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    The worst thing is: I found a bug in their dishes, so disgusting 发现了一只虫子在他们的炒菜里，然后他们老板娘态度特别差，最后只是帮我们重新做了一下...

    (1)

  • Pei-Hsien C.

    We left the restaurant after being seated for 50 minutes with no food. I have high tolerance with bad service, but this place has broken my record. After 15 minutes wait at the door, we got seated at an uncleaned table. Took them10 minutes to have the table wiped with a smelly mop. Table was still sticky and even more smelly with sour water smell. It hurt our appetite. After 2 friendly reminders, I finally got my tea, the wrong kind, after 30+ minutes wait. Waitress impatiently changed it. We saw many people picked up carryouts and tables after us got served. We got nothing. If you have A LOT OF patience, used to this kind of service, and not bothered by the sticky smelly environment, maybe you can get to eat their dumplings. We decided to leave because we had no idea when we will get our food. On the way out, I went to the counter to pay for my tea. The waitress rudely pull my bill from my hand and mumbling something (bad) in Chinese. We got no apologies from any one. Some friend told me this kind of attitude is "normal" in China, but I think it's not acceptable anywhere. Last time I had their dumplings and sides, the quality has gone south. With so many better Chinese restaurants in Rockville, there is no reason for me to visit this one ever again.

    (1)

  • Heather J.

    3.5 stars. Had dinner here last night after we discovered that the place where we were planning to eat was closed for the night. We both love Chinese food and I especially love dumplings, so, naturally, a dumpling house sounded good to me. The menu is big and has many different options, not only in terms of dumplings, but also kabobs and some more standard American-Chinese entrees. We went with the pork and napa dumplings, the kung pao chicken, and the homestyle bean curd. The dumplings were very good. 4 stars for those. I would go back and get those and skip the other entrees. The kung pao was good, but not great. It had a slightly different flavor than what I'm used to. The tofu was quite good, and again, different from what I've seen before. The vegetables in both dishes were great. We also got a nice, refreshing celery salad for free because we agreed before we ordered to pay with cash instead of credit. The service was great. Two different servers helped us and both were knowledgeable and friendly.

    (3)

  • Ann W.

    We ordered three different dumplings and one order came out with sour taste. They insisted that those were freshly made in the morning, and we didn't finish half, cuz' it's too sour. They didn't bother to take out the order cost from our bill. This was out first and last time there.

    (2)

  • Matt W.

    I was looking for something a little different for lunch in Rockville, and East Dumpling fit the bill nicely! If you're around the city hall / police station area, it's an easy walk, but there's some parking both in a metered lot and on the street in a pinch. The restaurant does offer some "classic" American Chinese options, but I went for some lamb and beef skewers and a serving of steamed pork dumplings with sour cabbage. The skewers both came out with a spicy seasoning and were a great "warm up" for the main course, which was about a dozen dumplings. I put a bit of soy sauce and the house vinegar on them to bring out the sourness of the cabbage, and really enjoyed the spicy-sour flavor. I didn't try their milk / bubble tea options, but I can see how it would be a nice end to the meal, especially on a hot summer day.

    (4)

  • Bruce G.

    I noticed that the reviews of this place by people who were familiar with the particular style of cooking that they feature (northeastern Chinese) seem to be favorable, while people who were not happy with it were simply (according to the others) unfamiliar with the cuisine of northeastern China. So I came here with the distinct impression that this is going to be something different, and I should not have preconceived ideas of "Chinese food" color my expectations. They have lunch specials, none of which included the kebabs, which I might have tried (never heard of Chinese kebabs!). So I ordered a set of pork/shrimp dumplings. They come with a choice of salad-type appetizers -- I selected one consisting of celery and (apparently cooked) peanuts. That, certainly, was new to me. I do not know why people have been complaining of the slowness of the preparation of the dumplings. Mine were delivered to my table before I was finished with my salad. Perhaps the restaurant may have been much busier when the other reviewers were there -- I certainly have no complaints of slowness. Yes, their dumpling skin is quite a lot thicker than what I've had elsewhere; that, I suppose, is simply the way it's done in northeastern China. The dumplings tasted all right, though, and that's what really matters. I came away with a good meal for under $9. That's rather amazing for the downtown Rockville area (not quite IN the Town Center, but close to it). Yes, it's worth coming back to.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth W.

    I came here twice. The first time I was going to give it a 2 and the second time it was a 4. So, since I cannot honestly figure out what I should give it, I will average my answer and give it a 3. I can always update later. Food: 4/5 Stars. If you get the kebabs, get the appetizer and order as many as you want. The appetizer is only 1 kebab ($1.75) while the meal is 4 kebabs and rice or noodles with it for $10. The kebab meal is a rip off. The waitress even told us to order the appetizer too next time (yeah, we got the meal...) DUMPLINGS. If you don't like thick dumpling skin, do not come here. This is the style of this dumpling and to be honest, it's not that much thicker than China Bistro's. I really liked the dumplings here. They have many different kinds, but get them fried, they taste the best that way even if it does cost you a dollar more. Steamed is ok too if you're being a cheapo. Service: This is where I am most confused. I went on Sunday(4/14/13) and the service was horrid. It took over 30 minutes for our dumpling to come out and they came out 10 minutes apart from each other. They were soooooo unorganized. But then on Monday (4/15/13), I showed up and they had 2 new workers who were very nice and they even said that it was their first day. The service was soooooo much better and all our food came out in under 20 minutes. **I would suggest, just in case, order the kebabs and dumplings both, so that you can eat the kebabs first on the off chance that the dumplings are going to take a long time. And be prepared for a long meal just in case too.**

    (3)

  • Sheena S.

    Delicious. Fresh. Tasty. They have a huge menu of small plates and of course- dumplings! Chicken, beef, pork, and veggie. Walkable distance to the town square - and metro-friendly. Quick, prompt service as well which I do believe is important. would def go again to try more dishes.

    (5)

  • Wesley Y.

    The food has changed a bit since it first opened. i was going to be the first review.... but TIAN LI CHEN asked me not to leave my honest review of the place on grand opening. I've been back 5-6 times and everytime has been average/mediocre. The place is obviously still new and working out little things here and there. The lunch special is really well priced at 6.95-7.5 It's definitely good price for value. You get to pick an entree with fried rice and 2 pan fried dumplings! I haven't had the kabobs since grand opening. They make their own fresh almond tofu which was pretty good the last time I had it. I don't order the bubble tea anymore from here but the first time I had the taro it was on point.

    (3)

  • Jessica T.

    Only come here for takeout!! Space is cramped and staff harried and disorganized. Took waay too long to get us our order. Don't bother trying the hot and sour soup...NO good. I had to add vinegar to mine because it had no taste. Their lamb sticks were good however. Nothing like what you can get in NYC but this is MD burbs so what can you do right? Would only come back for those.

    (2)

  • Hunter Z.

    Personal favorite. The only authentic Northeastern Chinese cuisine place in DC metro area. Nice dumplings and very good dishes. Try their vege triple delight and the chef special pork dish (the one that takes an entire page on the menu).

    (5)

  • J T.

    These people don't know how to operate a restaurant...period. Customers need to stand in front of the door for a long time before seated. The place is already very small and they find every available inch to squeeze a table in. There is absolutely no customer service or professional curtesy. You can't even get an answer after waiting for 30 min without food. I love Chinese food and respect the hard working Asian community. But I truly don't understand why these people think they can just keep opening 3rd class restaurants in Montgomery county without any customer service. I felt embarrassed when I learned that some other Chinese customers think this was normal and they told me it's not right to expect service in a "place like this". So I decided not to go back to this place anymore because I am a paying customer who believes people should treat each other with respect.

    (1)

  • Nick C.

    This is authentic Chinese cuisine in Sichuan and northeastern style. Very good place serves fast probably the best Chinese restaurant in DC/MD/NOVA area.

    (5)

  • Manish K.

    This is what we had: Spicy Spinach (cold): not bad and the peanuts on top was a nice touch Lamb and Beef Kabob: decent flavor and tender. Not bad but not memorable. Lamb and Pork Dumpling: Terrible. Absolutely zero flavor at all. With the other options in the area if this is their claim to fame I doubt this place will last long. It seems like they are geared towards a more american/white taste palate. No offense to american tastes but they are more bland and less flavorful.

    (2)

  • Cynthia L.

    I love dumplings. Maybe not as much as my sister does (because she asked for a cup of the broth the dumplings were cooked in...what?!), but I love dumplings. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical of this place because I hadn't heard anything raving from other fellow Asian eaters, but wanted to keep an open-mind and give it a try. We ordered lamb on a stick, pork noodle soup, and the triple delight dumplings. When I read other reviews, I was like: you have got to be kidding me, meat on a stick is the selling thing here? I am no lamb fan (sorry, what a travesty, I know), however, the lamb was pretty well seasoned (lots of cumin though), just very gamy; lamb fans will def enjoy them. The pork noodle soup had tender pork (watch out for the giant chunk of ginger) & tasty chewy fresh-pulled noodles. The dumplings were good: a little thick on the skin and a little overdone on the meat, but tasty. There def was quite a selection on the menu. Yes, the place gets crowded (because it's already really small). Yes, the service (not smiley-face customer service) is slow when it gets busy. However, food does come out hot and ready and we did enjoy the people watching (2 teenage boys next to us downing 5 whole entrees and then proceeding to ask for what was free since they ordered so much). *Pay with cash and they'll give you a free soy milk (ours was not good- burnt) 3.5 Stars

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    Service is chaotic and un-attentive. Took 20 minutes just to close out. Veggies dumplings had no flavor. Not coming back.

    (1)

  • May T.

    You can validate parking, folks!! Free for up to 2 hours! I do tend to avoid normal dining hours to avoid the crowds. Their pork rib noodle AND their pork rib w/ bean thread noodles are amazing. I also like their zucchini egg and bean thread dumpling. And I like meat. But I've come to prefer this dumpling more than the meaty ones. The shrimp and corn is yum too. I used to love their soy milk drinks, but lately I've had a time or two where it tasted off. Also their soy bean dessert is not so great. Which makes me sad.

    (4)

  • John L.

    The house dumpling was horrible ! Tasteless with thick broken skin. We've asked place our order at the counter and pay in cash first, we found out all other 5 tables can order at table and pay later by credit card, they explain it "busy". Will never go back there and tell all my friends don't even give a try!

    (1)

  • Mohan S.

    A great place for Chinese people!!! Tasty home-made dumplings that are just like what you eat at home! What we ordered: Beef noodle soup (noodles are hand-made which are awesome!!!) dumplings both boiled and fried eggplant with garlic sauce lamb kabob (I highly recommend this one, if you don't have it then you just waste your time there, especially for Chinese people.) bubble tea (Thai flavor is awesome!!! The best I've ever had since I came to US!) The waiter and waitress are friendly and helpful. Make me feel like I'm home! Anyway great place and I'll definitely come again and again!

    (5)

  • Merrie Z.

    This place is AMAZING! I've been here multiple times with both family and friends and every time the food has been incredible. Haven't found another dumpling house that's even close to this place! Like many other reviewers have mentioned, the area is small so waiting time can sometimes be awhile, but this is expected. Many of the other restaurants in the area are fast food restaurants such as Subway (next door) and will obviously have minimal wait time. Also, this place makes their dumplings on the spot unlike other places that freeze their food and take it out and boil it when the order comes in, resulting in a longer wait time (which is completely worth it!). The owners also frequently come over to make conversation and ask how the food is and whether we need anything else (even when the place is packed and extremely busy)! The food: I've tried a lot of the different dumplings and my personal favorite is the Pork and Chives. They had a lot of flavor and the dumpling skin was the perfect chewiness. I wasn't exactly sure what the sauces they had on the table were, but it went well with the dumplings. I frequently replaced my sauce since the juices/ oils from the dumpling would water it down. The homemade soy milk is delicious as well! You can get it sweetened or not and both ways are great. It's truly a unique flavor that you can't buy from your local supermarket. The cold dishes/ appetizer style dishes are all very good. The homemade noodles (not exactly sure what they're called) come with a very tasty sauce as well and they give decent portions! The lamb skewers are incredible! The seasoning on it is super unique and the lamb is extremely juicy as well. Can't find these anywhere else. They are starting to add more and more entree dishes such as fish, beef, etc. and of the few I've tried, they have all been great. But in all, I'd come here for the dumplings and lamb skewers!

    (5)

  • Christina Y.

    FINALLY a place that sells GOOD bubble tea. There are many boba places in this area, but there was always something missing with the flavor or the bubbles. This restaurant not only has great food, but their milk boba tea tastes the best!

    (5)

  • Dan T.

    The dumplings are not very good. They are far better at Bobs Shanghai 66, down the road a bit. The place is not well air conditioned so it was uncomfortable. The taro bubble tea was really bad. I almost sent it back. Service is slow so you will wait a while. Not a fan.

    (2)

  • Michael L.

    I thought this place was outstanding. I see some of the lower reviews on here but they have to bear in mind that this place has just opened. Like any new restaurant the logistics is sometimes the hardest thing to figure out. What they lacked for in efficiency they sure made up for with the warmth and effort that you often see in a small privately owned business. As for the food, they have the best dumplings in town and offer enough variety to satisfy those dumpling haters out there. I loved the thickness of the dumpling. It added a chewiness factor that I loved. I guess you could call it dumplings cooked aldente. Give this place a chance. You will not be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Matt P.

    Hand made noodles! The Sichuan style handmade noodles, dumplings, and kabobs are great. This is a small family business so the service can be slow, but it is more than made up for with great food that is otherwise hard to find.

    (5)

  • GG W.

    Love this place!!! It feels like my wife and I have been going to East Dumpling every week in the past 2 years. We eat out at least a couple of times a week and East Dumpling has been easily our most visited restaurant since we discovered it 2 years ago. Food is the best. This is not a big and fancy Chinese restaurant serving formal banquet dishes. Instead, it is a place with an excellent menu of some of the most popular dishes people cook and eat at home in China. What makes East Dumpling stand out is the quality of their dishes and ingredients. For example, the most simple dish of tofu with scallion (a salad type of dish that couldn't be easier to make) was surprisingly delicious and tasty, completely different from what you will find at other places. I later learned that's because East Dumpling makes their own tofu fresh everyday from whole soy beans. I eat out a lot and I don't know any other Chinese restaurant in Maryland that does that. The pork they use is carved off the bones by themselves from the right part of the pig. They don't use cheap bulk frozen meat many other restaurants use. I'm sure many restaurants can offer the same dishes and East Dumpling's dishes don't look particularly different from what one would expect. But for anyone who knows Chinese food, the difference in taste and freshness is pretty obvious. Service is very good for what this restaurant is. They are extremely busy during peak hours (I guess many other guests share our view on their food), and some times you need to wait a while for a seat and some times it can take a while for the waitresses to respond to your requests. But they usually are running around like crazy and it's not like they just stand there and ignore you. This is not a Michelin 3 star restaurant. Instead, it's a neighborhood eatery started by a couple neither of whom was a professional chef or had any restaurateur experience. They just love cooking, have a few good home recipes, and decided to make a business out of it. Both of them are very friendly and outgoing, and if you go there often and ask them (like we did), they will tell you their stories. So if you think of this place as a small business started by two of your neighbors to serve high quality home cooking prepared with passion and honesty and offered at very reasonable prices, you will find the service to be warm, friendly, and more than adequate. I guess the best endorsement I can give East Dumpling is that my wife and I live in Baltimore and it takes a 45 minute to 1 hour drive for us to get to the restaurant and it is our most often visited restaurant. That probably is the best summary of what we think about the restaurant. And judging by the long lines during peak hours, many others apparently share our view.

    (5)

  • M. L.

    Fresh, hot soy milk is very good here. I also wanted to try the homemade tofu, but they were all out. Dumplings are ok - not much meat. Could use a little more flavor. The dumpling skins are thicker than what I am used to, but it's probably because they make their own. Place is kind of dark inside and a little cramped.

    (3)

  • Jamie C.

    The dumplings are as good as they get. I discovered this place about a month ago and was hooked right away. I usually get carry-out because the place is so busy I can never get a seat--basically the only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5. I do wish there was more seating available. Since the dumplings are so good I've never tried anything else. They even have vegetarian dumplings. I love this place and will definitely be a long-time customer!

    (4)

  • Christine T.

    First things first, the service is underwhelming, but let's be honest, no one really goes to Chinese restaurants for the service. To sum up the service: - was told they were out of Tofu with Scallions, but the table next to me ordered it after me (granted by a different server) - waited 20 minutes before waitress decided to acknowledge me after 2 failed attempts at getting her attention. -- table next to me got their waters refilled, but she decided that my empty glass wasn't worth a fill Now onto the food. I ordered the chicken kabob, House dumplings, followed by a sweet soft tofu to go. The chicken kabob was nicely seasoned and the size was what I expected for the dollar and change it was priced. House dumplings are a bit smaller than other places in the Rockville area, but it were fragrant and still had the sweet juices inside the dumpling. The soft tofu was smooth, but I prefer the ginger sauce to be sweeter and the tofu lacked a soy fragrance I'm used to with Tofu Fa. The place is small so seating is limited. I was tempted to try their bubble tea, but I have reservations of trying new bubble tea places when I've already found my Holy Grail. I'll give this place another go with the co-workers for dine in, but other then that I'll stick to carry out. P.S. The parking is unfortunate. I went during off time, but the lot is completely one way, so park in the first spot you see! Also, there is only one entrance to the lot on Middle Lane, so turn there or else you'll keep making rounds like I did.

    (3)

  • Andrea W.

    Eggplant and potatoes fish was delicious. Dumplings and noodles were fresh and hand made. Down side to this place is the horrendous paid parking lot. It's always crowded and inevitably there's someone in the front of the line who is causing a jamfest .

    (3)

  • Chang H.

    Delicious food. I love the lamp kabob, which tasted like a Chinese traditional one. Service is perfect! Although the restaurant is small and crowded, I will come back again.

    (5)

  • Shirley D.

    Before discovering this restaurant, I always ordered my Pork Chives dumplings somewhere else, So I was definitely going to compare the two dishes. When I ordered them here, I fell in love! The chives flavor/odor isn't as strong as the other one, which is a plus for me. The dumplings are plentiful (12 pcs) and fills me up. It's also inexpensive. However, the wait for dumplings is pretty long, since it's freshly prepared and boiled. It is definitely worth the wait. The dumpling sauce they provide is sweet, not salty. My husband loves the Shui Ju Niu (Some spicy beef dish). He also likes the Dark Meat Chicken Kabobs. Also, their cold soy bean drink is good, nice and sweet. I haven't had a chance to try their bubble tea yet, but I will soon!

    (5)

  • Bradley S.

    I'll save you all the graphic details but try to shy away from this place if you can. I got SEVERE food poisoning from this place, and spent a day in the hospital followed by a week of misery and another week of heavy medication. When we got food there, it was extremely busy, and the dumpling makers were working very fast, but not accurately. One of my dumplings (pork and shrimp of course) was very undercooked, but I didn't notice until my first bite. The other dumplings were good, but the fact that I had a "bad" and undercooked one, that ended up in a miserable experience, I'd recommend to bypass this place.

    (1)

  • Tianli C.

    Before I start, I want to kindly explain the style and taste of the food from this restaurant. Many reviewers who gave 1 star do not understand the style of the food that was served from the east dumpling house. The food originates from the northeast part of China, and many dishes came from Manchu cuisine. Unlike southern China, the staple crop in northern China is wheat and it supplies the majority of the starch found in a northern Chinese diet where it is found in the form of noodles and steamed bun due to harsh winters in the north. This is actually one of the few restaurants that focus on this type of cuisine around DMV area. I myself was born in the area, so I am very familiar with this type of cuisine. I would like to start by talking about the beef, chicken and lamb sticks (kabob) on the menu, this is actually the only place I know in the DMV area that serve such a thing. One of the other place I know is up in Jersey. The flavor is surprisingly authentic, very close to what I have had when I was in China. The meat is tender and just right. In fact, I have been searching for years for a place that would serve such a thing, and have yet to find any until the east dumpling house. Lamb sticks are served in my home town mainly because of large population of Uyghur people (minority group in China) living in the area, their main diet revolves around lambs. I have also had a chance to try their tofu cabbage soup. The tofu tastes rather different, and upon talking to the person in the back, I found out that they make their own tofu in the style according to northeast cuisine. You will not found such a thing in the supermarket anywhere. It tastes fresh and delicious. Lastly, I will talk about the dumplings (of course, can't talk about east dumpling house without talking about their dumplings). I found out that the main reason they are taking so long serving the dumplings is because when customers order dumplings, and the chief has to freshly make the dumpling and then boil them. Many customers come in to the place expecting their food to be made under 20 minutes and treat the place like a fast food restaurant should take a different approach on how the food is being made here. Would you like your food to be pre-made or made on the spot that is fresh. I, myself, definitely enjoy dinning at the place and it is one of the places I would continue to come back even if it takes them longer than usual to make my food. I, of course, expect them to improve on serving to the customers quicker because the restaurant is situated right next to rockville towncenter and many do treat it like a take-out place. If you would like to try a different type of Chinese cuisine, I would definitely come to East Dumpling House.

    (5)

  • Cassandra K.

    The only downside is leaving so full.

    (5)

  • Angela Y.

    I have been here quite a few times and finally decided to give them a good review. I love their dumplings as well as their noodles and cold dishes. I tried their chicken kabob but that was a little too dry for me. Their service could be a little slow as they are always packed during lunch and dinner time but the wait is definitely worth it.

    (4)

  • Veronica R.

    I rate East Dumpling House 0 Stars. It took 1 hour and 20 minutes to get my order and the food did not taste good! When you first walk into East Dumpling House, the Chinese interior décor is inviting, but there is no display menu. My friend and I had to cut in line to pick up a take-out menu. The take-out menu only lists food items and it wasn't until we reached the ordering counter that we discovered a separate beverage menu next to the register. The cashier was a man who didn't know how to operate the register (it was a touch screen monitor). He kept asking for assistance from a woman preparing beverages. My order either had to be repeated more than once or pointed out directly from the menu. Language barrier or not, as the cashier, he should be able to communicate menu items fluently with his customers. Meanwhile, I peer towards the open kitchen area and noticed three cooks arguing about how to delegate responsibilities instead of doing any actual cooking. I also couldn't ignore the squawk of two women, one looking for order no. 10, the other looking for order no. 11. It would have been easier to point out them out as servers had they both wore some type of uniform to suggest this instead of casual clothing. They weaved through table after table asking every customer if they were order no. 10 or order no. 11. When the servers did not find them, the dumplings went back behind the ordering counter. It made me wonder what happens to those dumplings that don't find their customer. Are they thrown away or sent back into a warmer for the next customer? Something to think about. After waiting in line and placing our orders for 10 minutes, my friend and I finally took a seat at one of the few vacant tables when we noticed that the line behind us began to flood out the door. The cashier couldn't keep up with the rush. The woman preparing the beverages was so preoccupied with helping him that it took an entire 30 minutes to make our two small strawberry smoothies. I was expecting a blend of fresh fruit, ice, and bubbles, but instead, I received ice shavings in flavored syrup with no bubbles. Dislike. The chaos became worse. Somehow, the servers skipped a dozen orders and were looking for order no. 23, and just a few moments later, they were already on to order no. 31. I should note that both orders went unclaimed, probably from dissatisfied customers that left empty-handed after the long wait. After another 10 minutes, my friend finally received the first of two dumpling orders. The second did not arrive for another 20 minutes. The dumplings were served to us cold and each had an average taste. We had approached the ordering counter three times inquiring about the status of my order, which was chicken kabob with fried rice. After another 10 minutes, I decide to leave with or without my order. Coincidentally, a server finally appeared with my order. I took it to go. The chicken kabob was dry and needed more flavor. The fried rice was bland and tasted like it came out of a cardboard box. If the food was delicious, then I would have forgiven how my time was wasted today, but the fact that it was not is what drove me to write this review. A simple lunch turned into a 1 hour and 20 minute nightmare. I will not return and I absolutely do not recommend this place to anyone, especially since my friend who ordered the dumplings felt ill after eating them.

    (1)

  • H C.

    * The food is good: 4/5 * However, service was abnormally bad on the day I went. They were not having a good day - apparently their electronic point of sale system was down which virtually brought their operations to a complete halt. During lunchtime, definitely expect to wait for a table. The seating is already very limited in a confined space, 30% of which is taken up by the overly extravagant front counter designed to look like something out of an old Chinese movie. Took us about 15 minutes to be seated, and customers were piling up all around us, waiting to pay, waiting to order, etc. I can understand that if their systems are down, they may not be able to swipe credit cards. But the waitresses were walking around not even taking orders. Not sure why they couldn't just write it down. We were finally able to order after they rebooted the systems, but still took a very long time to get our food as they were trying to resolve all their piled up transactions. We ordered some bubble tea which did not come out until we reminded the waitress, and the manager, about 3 times. It finally came at the end of the meal after we were finished eating. To add on to the list of offbeat occurrences: while we were seated and customers standing around waiting, the restaurant happened to receive a delivery of supplies. The deliveryman wheeled in the crates through the front entrance, uncomfortably attempting to navigate through the narrow walkways between people and chairs, to the back into the kitchen. Customers were forced to scoot their chairs in the middle of meals, or move aside. I'm not sure why he was unable to, or chose not to, go through the back. Through all of this, the lady who seemed to be the manager, along with the staff were extremely unapologetic, and the attitude they conveyed seemed to imply that they were not at all grateful for our patronage. Eventually we got our food: fried dumplings, the kabobs, and the Spicy Zha Jiang Noodles. Everything was really good, but I have not been back and probably will not be coming back. The fried dumplings are not better than the ones at China Bistro. The only edge I would give to East Dumpling House over China Bistro is: 1) the skin of their dumplings are a little softer 2) Their other dishes aside from the dumplings are pretty good too In the end, what we expected to be a quick 30-minute lunch took over an hour. They were clearly having an off day, but based on their response to the situation, I can't expect good service even on a normal day.

    (2)

  • Darren L.

    well, they called it kabob, but we know it is BBQ. The lamb kabob is so good! Just like what I had in college back at China. This restaurant makes Northern China flavor food, makes me so happy. But I don't why the employees talks to all the customers who dinners in except me, and I was sitting in the center. otherwise I will five a 5 star.

    (4)

  • Jane C.

    House dumplings, beef soup w/handmade noodles, hot & sour soup, celery etc salad--our hostess very graciously made these recommendations from the menu. Delicious food, hardworking servers and chef, customers at every table. Yes, eat here! (If you want to whine, contact your congressional representative.)

    (5)

  • Rui L.

    This is one of the UNIQUE places that will soon become an iconic restaurant. I really appreciate restaurants that are focus in what they do. Unlike other places that have a million things to choose from, which often have to sacrifice quality. East Dumpling House specialize in northern Chinese food (which you don't see too often. I grew up in New York City where Chinese food are plenty, but northern cuisine brings a special favor. Setting: The place is very well decorated. It has a cafe vibe to it. the arch behind the cash register is a nice touch of old school Chinese ambiance . The staff is very friendly and attentive. Food: If you like a unique experience, this is IT. The food also comes out as home made, which is excellent. We live in a world full of artificial favors and MSG. Their BBQ lamb and beef is very tasty and fresh. Will def go back to try out rest of the menu

    (5)

  • S R.

    Last night my husband and I visited the East Dumpling House for the first time and I have to say we were both pleasantly surprised! We weren't exactly sure what to expect but we were hoping for some good dumplings (and the hubs wanted bubble tea). And that is exactly what we got! Parking- luckily we live close by so we were fortunate enough to walk to the restaurant but I can see why others would complain about the lack of parking. But there is plenty of parking at the square and sounding parking lots so people can always park there and walk to the plaza. Dumplings - initially I was a little concerned because our food order was taking a while and when we were served it was all out of order and given at different times. HOWEVER - I believe it is because these little pockets of yummyness are handmade! I'm pretty sure they are steaming to order. Maybe even filling to order (not sure I didn't go back into the kitchen). But you could tell they were freshly made and cooked - none of that bagged/frozen dumpling stuff you get at some other restaurants. And yes, these are northeastern china type of dumplings, so thicker dumplings. We had the house pork and the mushroom veggie - both were very good. Bubble tea - I am pretty sure they made our strawberry ice smoothie with fresh strawberries! I was pretty excited and impressed that it wasn't just a mix as with many other places. Only odd thing - they put the bubbles on top rather than at the bottom? We had to push the bubbles towards the bottom of the cup. But really that is minor, especially when you are given a real strawberry drink! Next time I'm going to try one of the milk teas with coffee-flavored pearls! Overall - good! I know we'll be going again soon!

    (4)

  • Steph L.

    You know its a bad sign when a dumpling restaurant has terrible soy sauce. That should have been a warning. That and the fact that the waiter never refilled our water glasses or offered drinks to begin with. The only good dish we had at lunch were the shrimp eggrolls, even without the soy sauce I would normally dip them in. I substituted with a spicy sauce on the table that worked fine, and the shrimp roll tasted really good. Unfortunately the rest of the dishes were very bland tasting - including the dumplings and fried rice. Probably not worth a repeat visit.

    (2)

  • Anne Z.

    We added the dumpling house to our regular rotation. The service can be slow, but always friendly. The food is fresh and cooked to order, so we never mind the wait. As others have said, the dumplings have a thick wrapper, but overall are very tasty with a good number of filling choices and a good ratio of filling to wrapper. The spicy fried chicken dish is unbelievable! So many different dried chilies makes it have unique flavor and quite a kick! The kabobs also have a good kick to them, but have a complex flavor and are always tender. The bubble teas are wonderful as well.

    (4)

  • Nicole L.

    It always looked dark from the outside due to the tinted windows so I could not tell if it was active. The parking was also not appealing but it's free anyway with validation. After checking out the reviews I decided to give it a shot. It was a small restaurant with friendly staff, I ordered quite a few dishes. The house dumplings, grilled lamb kabobs, spicy noodles (Chinese sphagetti) and spicy crispy fried chicken. The dumplings were different from the other ones being smaller etc in Rockville but I enjoyed the flavors. The lamb kabobs with the cumin spices were so good. I also liked the noodles with ground meat and sauce it was mild but had a great flavor. Lastly the crispy chicken it was the most sensible place that made sure the chicken pieces were fried as crispy as one could get and they gave it time to cool, tossed with a mild red pepper it was one of the best ones I had - crunchy and tasty! I was happy with this milder yet flavorful taste in the cooking at East Dumpling house. Looking forward to go there again!

    (5)

  • DJ C.

    who goes to a Chinese restaurant wishing for quality service? I don't. I want food, mass quantities of food. I went with the named specialty of dumplings, 2 plates full, very good just short of mind-blowing excellent. Served in beautiful custom labeled dishes, that counts for something, at least in this yelper's review. What I would come here for is the amazingly exquisite beautiful furniture! The chairs are neatly plastic or vinyl etched with Chinese calligraphy and the tables thickly lacquered with a Chinese etching scenic kinda painting. You're dining on quality furniture and dishes, even though the food and service might be a tad short of raving with everyone you meet, it's still in the very good category, for those of you Asians, I'd count the food an A-.

    (4)

  • Meggie C.

    So I gave this place a try because it was new and people were talking about their dumplings and I love dumplings so why not? When I got there, it was quite small. The staff was really friendly. The food was bad in my opinion. We ordered two of their dumplings, chicken and lamb kabob, spicy tripe, as well as their bubble tea. Below are my opinions on each item: Dumplings: no flavor, bland, tasteless, worst dumplings I have ever had in the area Chicken Kabob: their choice of spice was overwhelming and once you bite into it the inside has no flavor, just plain chicken since they didnt marinate their chicken. Spicy Tribe: it was good, very spicy though. Bubble Tea: if you like powder bubble tea drinks then you might like it, I like onces made with actual fruit ect. I asked them if their taro bubble tea is made with real taro. The lady said yes and showed me their batch of real taro. When my drink arrived, it was made from powder -___-

    (1)

  • Alex L.

    Pretty good dumplings and pot stickers - good selection of fillings. Try the Da Liang Pi - distinct NE China dish. the kebabs are also fairly good...cumin-covered and cheap

    (4)

  • Haohan X.

    Dumplings are excellent, Lamb Kabob is fine, Boiling fish are kinda disappointing though. Even with a lot of seasonings, the fish tastes plain. In conclusion, a place I will come to visit again sometime.

    (4)

  • A N.

    Just had a *terrific* late afternoon Sunday lunch here. Our hungry duo ate for $40 ($30 for food, $10 for beverages) and consumed the following, all delicious: --seaweed salad (a brown seaweed, adorned with carrot slides; the medium portion was *very generous*); --combination kabob platter, lamb and dark meat chicken (both beautifully seasoned with a dry rub of spices; you can choose your side dish-- our choice of salad was vibrant and impeccably fresh; the lettuce was bright green, not a boring iceberg-- kudos!-- and the cherry tomato and cucumber slices were outstanding); --12 house dumplings (the filling was a wonderful mixture of pork, shrimp and, I believe, chives; the skins were perfectly tender if a tad thick for our taste; the result was delicious. We think that East Dumpling House completely bests China Bistro/Mama's Dumplings on the dumpling front.) If you like a good vinegar-based sauce, East Dumpling House has an uncommonly smooth and delicious one. It will be in a squeeze bottle on your table. Hot sauce and soy sauce are also provided. The vinegar sauce pairs beautifully with the dumplings and kabobs. About $10 of our $40 bill were for two iced green teas (we tried them without sweetener, somewhat bitter but interesting with the food) and one large milk bubble tea (the bubble balls were sweeter than encountered elsewhere, tasted like honey instead of tapioca; the result was a little too sweet.) If you go, aim for an off hour as this is a very small place. When we visited late on a Sunday afternoon, the kitchen was out of several items, but what we did have was delicious and a great value. For dieters: the kabob platters with salad are a wonderful and satisfying choice, as is the seaweed salad. And if you want to savor dumplings without the calories, use the large lettuce pieces from your kabob side salad to wrap the dumpling fillings, ignoring the dough wrappers. Yum, with very few calories.

    (5)

  • Alan M.

    The dumplings are not bad. The dough is too thick and a few were served with raw dough. Theres no consistency among the dough. Some dumplings look like one way and others are much larger. The meat is a little over seasoned for Chinese taste. There were no sauce options but soy and chili on the table. The beef carrot dumplings goozed oil which was funny. Overall not a bad dumpling place. There were many options and parkings free. The bathrooms were shared among tenants with a key. Try for yourself but not as good as homemade.

    (3)

  • Sherry C.

    I came to this place without doing much research, which is not what I do normally. All I knew about this place was that it's a new dumpling place with the kebobs (). You have to get a ticket for parking in the shopping center, but it's free if you validate it in the restaurant. The restaurant decor was pretty. The wallpaper had fancy Chinese calligraphy, and the archway behind the register was interesting. I recommend getting the House Special Dumplings, and the kebob dish with fried rice. The dumplings were very big and I think they make it themselves. We got the lamb kebob with fried rice, as suggested by the owner. The kebobs were flavored with lots of spices, which made it very quite yummy, but I think they might have slightly overcooked ours. While all the other dishes were ok, the fried rice was really good. No joke, if I had to find a reason to come back, it would be for the fried rice. If you do end up going, I recommend skipping the cold dishes. I hear they make their own tofu, so if I come back again, I will try that. So why the 3 stars? It's because the service was actually not that great. The staff looked like they hated their jobs and wasn't particularly helpful. The owner, on the other hand, was very friendly, but I do feel that she neglected us after we sat down. She knew we were new, but didn't follow up and see if we liked her dishes. The place wasn't even packed, so it wasn't like she didn't have the time. I don't mind bad service as long as the food is heavenly delicious, but this place wasn't like that. It was very mediocre for me. I do have to agree with previous reviewers that there is a special taste to the food in this place because it has that NE China flair. Overall, it's not a bad place to try, but I wouldn't be racing to go back.

    (3)

  • Bianca S.

    This place is sooo yummy! I loved the noodles, they had just the right amount of spice. Also they have Lamb dumplings! That alone will have me returning since they had much more then just pick dumplings. The service was were fast and friendly and ukulele can't go wrong with the taro tea.

    (5)

  • Tim R.

    Parking is annoying. Had to wait fifteen minutes for a table. Ordered soy milk, pork napa dumplings, bean sauce noodle and a beef kebab. The soy milk was good. Other than that, well, nobody got sick. Something about eating in a small crowded place with bad service and food I don't like that just didn't work for me.

    (2)

  • pao h.

    After a glowing review by nephew, I took my discerning Chinese mother here for lunch. What a disappointment. Lousy service, mediocre dumplings, no dumpling sauce, no Yangsi vinegar on the table.. and this place calls itself a dumpling house? Don't waste your time unless you are in court and need a quick meal.. on second thought... its not quick!

    (1)

  • Albert S.

    I like this place. It is very well priced, the food very good, and the ambiance nice. You can validate parking for 2 hours and it is very close to rockville town center. I personally like the dill dumplings.

    (4)

  • Dongying H.

    Best dumplings! Really like here and the bubble tea is wonderful! Definitely will come again.

    (5)

  • Elva L.

    Good food, place is tiny but always full, make a reservation before you go. the skewers are amazing, should try the lamb.

    (4)

  • James L.

    sooooo gooood....shrimp amd chives dumpling and pork and chives dumpling soooo gooooooooood!!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    No comparison to China Bistro's dumplings. Skin too thick, filling too small and tasteless. Hot sauce on the table was just hot oil - no pepper flakes. Dumpling sauce had no flavor. It'll be closed in less than a year.

    (1)

  • Julissa A.

    Their hot and sour soup is absolutely amazing! It's a MUST try. I work literally a block away, my co-workers and I really have come to love this new place! Staff is super friendly and i'm yet to have a bad dish!

    (4)

  • Alan M.

    Have you ever been to a restaurant where the staff are so nice and the food is so good and the prices are so reasonable that you really want them to be successful? If not, go to the East Dumpling House at 12 N. Washington Avenue in Rockville. I and my wife have had four different dishes there on three different occasions. The fried bean curd was crispy on the outside (but not greasy) and oh so juicy on the inside. The house special dumplings are wrapped in dough that is just the right degree of thickness and the ingredients inside are not all ground up but a little chunky which gives the dumpling a delightful chew. The ingredient mix has a taste that combines flavor and depth. The lamb kabob was juicy - not overcooked. It was spicy. Delicious, but be warned if spicy is not your thing. Finally, the Singapore noodles which I ordered as a combo with vegetables and chicken were cooked just right so the noodles were al dente and the curry was exactly as I had requested - not too spicey but still with a little kick. Lots of white meat chicken cut in large pieces along with the veggies. The staff really wants to please you and that is so refreshing. The restaurant is small and the wait for the food is a bit on the long side. But, I suspect that is because they do not have dishes precooked and sitting in warming trays. I am guessing they make everything to order which is why the food tastes so good. They validate your parking ticket so remember to bring your parking ticket in to the restaurant to get it validated.

    (5)

  • Will J.

    I stopped by East Dumpling House for some takeout this evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. The owner was incredibly friendly and chatted with me while I was waiting for my food. She told me a little about North Chinese cusine and pointed out where in the open kitchen my dumplings were being handmade. On her recommendation I tried some kebabs as well and was sure glad I did. The dumplings were definitely a little different than I'm used to, but they were delicious! My entire meal cost $12 and was more than enough food. My experience was overwhelmingly positive and I'll be making this a reguar spot!

    (5)

  • Red B.

    Ambiance and table service have a bit to be desired but food is delivered quite fast and is very abundant and tasty. Lunch specials with entree, fried rice and spring roll all for around $7.

    (4)

  • Susan R.

    We had the house dumplings, handmade bean paste noodles, and cumin beef (it's ma la style). The food was very good but they were severely understaffed for the number of customers. I would order take-out next time.

    (3)

  • H C.

    Seating is very limited and try not to come during lunch time. Tried the pan fried dumplings and found they were a little too greasy for my taste. Also had the Kung pao chicken and chicken was good but the rice was very cold.

    (3)

  • Chris G.

    I've been here twice with my wife, once today and once two days ago. Both times we had all our dishes on the table under 20 minutes. The dumplings are wonderful; the meat is tender (I've had the pork & mushroom; beef & celery; and egg & spring onion dumplings) and they are juicy. The first time, their peppers were rather flavorless, but it seems that others must have complained because this time they had the good peppers out. Their cold dishes are nice and they are very friendly, coming around to chat at the tables. Like I said, we've been there twice in three days, and we plan to be back (and we've grabbed a menu for a friend of ours)!

    (5)

  • Max V.

    Have you ever wanted to eat at a restaurant that served food that tasted like it was rolled in a bucket of MSG and salt? You have? I know the best place to get that kind of culinary experience! Here at East Dumpling House, you will find all sorts of dumplings with sub par tastes compared to places like the Garbage Can and even The Toilet! We even have service to compliment our savory cuisine! You can even try our famous smoothies that are made out of pure ice and sugary syrup, AND you only have to wait over 20 minutes to get it! I'd also like to mention that our food take more than an hour to prepare and we like to spice things up by giving you the wrong dishes! I've never had the pleasure of going to a restaurant with terrible service like this one. Even though I never bother reviewing places because I'm lazy, I just had to make an account just so I can rant. This place needs to stop breathing kthx. PS The only good thing to come out of this experience was the really cute girl sitting in front of me.

    (1)

  • C S.

    The dumplings are fantastic. The rest of the food is an experience. Real Shanghai cuisine. The pepper will curl your teeth. If you're from Shanghai, a great place for authentic food. If you're not, a great place to bring a little of the world to your palate. The flavors are very distinctive -- it's a different kind of spicy than Americans are used to -- but the ingredients are fresh, the spicing is spot on and the preparation of the food is good. Definitely will go back.

    (4)

  • Ellie L.

    Dumplings were just okay...and then...I found hair on my dumplings. The worst was when I told the waitress, she took my used (USED!!!) napkin to wipe it off the dumpling...REALLY? It went from bad to real bad to I am never coming back here again. I wanna throw up again writing this review.

    (1)

  • Rich H.

    This place will rate 4-5 stars if the service improves. Right now it's totally disorganized. You have to stand in line to order, compete to grab a table (there aren't many), and hope the kitchen gets your order right. The staff forgot our dumpling order and we waited at least a half hour, watching everyone else who arrived after us get served first. NONETHELESS: -- Lamb kababs were delicious -- just like the best Beijing or Taipei street food. But order them individually as appetizers. Our "dinner" with salad came with a mound of iceburg lettuce accompanied by a foil pouch of ranch dressing. -- Cucumber salad was a delight. Not spicy like at Sichuan joints, but delicately laced with sesame oil and rice vinegar. -- Dumplings - in a word: excellent. We only had pork and chive, but the succulent freshness of these was enough to romance us back to try more -- there are at least 20 kinds of different meat and veggie ones....all the shui jiao (boiled) variety. NOTE: These are authentic northern-style dumplings, which means thick dumpling skins. Some reviewers complained about this -- they are obviously not familiar with Beijing-style of dumplings. Bottom line: Excellent food/inept service. The staff sincerely try hard (they didn't charge for the late dumplings), but they desperately need help to improve the way the place works. If/when they accomplish this, East Dumpling House could become an area legend. If not, the food is still great but many western diners will be put off.

    (3)

  • Jennifer X.

    I heard about their 'hand-pulled-noodles' and decided to give a try. I am glad that I did. This is the best noodle I ever had in this area. It is chew but not hard, and not watery at all. It must be made from high quality flour and some kind of secret receipt. Another must try is 'la-pi', which is a type of cold noodles but made from some kind of beans, not wheat flour. It has to be made daily. I am very big in freshness. They make all their dumplings and noodles daily. Like other viewers, i also enjoy their specially designed serving ware and furnitures. I am just amazed how they do all these things and still able to offer such a low price for the food. Definitely a bargain.

    (5)

  • Kelly W.

    Came here to try the dumplings and kabob that ppl have talked about. Tried the pork and their house special. the lamb kabob was pretty good but the dumplings another story, you def need to dip it with the sauce, otherwise not as good. During the time we were eating it, the stuffing fell out of the skin pretty easily. It didn't stay in. We had to constantly pick up the stuffing. :( Wish it would have stayed in there.

    (3)

  • Naomi L.

    Bad bad bad , won't go there again ever! Dumpling taste horrible! Service terrible. Restaurant too too too small!

    (1)

  • John Y.

    Ordered carry out here and it took about 15 minutes. They have a good selection of bubble tea and the place is nicely decorated. Ordered the house dumpling and the lamb kabob. The lamb kabob is pretty decent, but the dumpling are only so so. Mama's dumpling are bigger and tastier. Problem is they are so close to each other, I would probably go back to Mama more.

    (3)

  • Ngan T.

    Yay for having a 2:30p lunch time, therefore missing the lunch rush and being able to get my order in 15 mins. disclaimer for all those with horrible wait times. Love their dumplings. Not sure if they have a high amount of msg that others have described. I actually think they're pretty bland as I'm not a huge fan of flavor. That's right, I like everything to taste like cardboard. I have tried both chicken dumplings so far and am still loving it. Planning on trying the kabobs one of these days. Now, I purposely asked for bubble tea so that I can write a review on it. Well, I didn't get any bubbles ;'( and I'm docking 1.5 stars for that. However, I love me some mom & pop restaurant, so I'm adding .5 star.

    (4)

  • Greg K.

    After reading the reviews I must admit I was skeptical. Boy were we wrong! We had 3 types of dumplings that were all extremely fresh and subtle to the point where you could savor all the key ingredients. The house dumplings were savory yet light and extremely juicy. We also enjoyed the shrimp chive and chicken double mushroom dumplings. Keep in mind that any of the options can be pan-fried that adds a little variety to you order. The service was extremely courteous and we were even treated to some complimentary soy milk that they make in house daily. As many of the other reviewers have pointed out, the food is more reminiscent of Central Asian cuisine and not your typical Cantonese. Please don't be so quick to dismiss this gem because they don't serve your typical greasy lacquered mess. There is beauty and harmony in subtlety, and certainly a lot of rich history in what they serve. I will return and I suggest you do the same.

    (5)

  • Jen L.

    I'm definitely a fan of this new homemade dumpling place in Rockville. They have a variety of meat and veggie only dumplings, and they always come out nice and fresh. I actually like the dumplings here much better than those at the nearby China Bistro. Although there is slightly less filling in the dumplings here, the ingredients are fresher, the meat's more tender, and just taste better. Many people favor China Bistro, which I think is only so-so. I think this place is much better. The people who work here are friendlier and give you better service as well. They also have tasty meat kabobs and a variety of cold small dish appetizers. They make their own tofu and tofu dishes. They also make their own noodles, and I have yet to try out one of their noodle dishes. This is definitely my go-to place for dumplings in the Greater DC area!

    (4)

  • alice t.

    Came here for lunch today and it was a mad house. The line was nearly out the door. The food was pretty good. Dumpling skin was very chewy. I tried the shrimp and pork flavor, the east dumpling house flavor, and the chicken and mushroom flavor along with spicy beef tendon, peanut and celery dish, pig ears, tofu noodle, marinated beef, and some side veggie dish. Overall the food was pretty good, but the service was terrible. The fried dumplings came out cold. Not to mention, the food came out very slow and sporadic. The servers had no idea which table the food belong to and was walking around asking for people's order numbers even though the place was small. The line was out of control because the person taking the order was slow. I repeated three times my order and he still messed up! Anyway, I am not one to really grade a place based on their service most of the time, but the dining experience here was so chaotic that I had to say something. I suggest coming during none busy hours and maybe you'll get some freshly fried guo tie instead of the ones they pre-cooked and put on the side in a buffet container.

    (2)

  • myra f.

    Had lunch today. Steamed dumplings great. Singapore Rice noodles awesome, not greasy like other places, if you like them spicy ask for more curry, nice size serving for price definitely a two or three person dish. Homemade crystal wide noodles cold dish excellent. Our server could not have been more helpful.

    (4)

  • Maribeth F.

    Picked up an order of house dumplings and took them to go. They were delicious! Similar in style to China Bistro but I liked them even better. Will definitely be back and would like to try some of the other menu items.

    (5)

  • Gaby D.

    Finally after 6 months searching for a decent Chinese food, we found one. Home made noodle has a very nice texture. Zechuan beef noodle soup is soooo good, I can just drink the broth. Dumplings were delicious. I must say I prefer it than China Bistro. Service was down to earth. This place is worth driving to.

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    This place is super tiny. My boyfriend and I were squeezed into a table literally two inches from the next couple. We were also in the aisle for the waitresses and right next to the kitchen counter. We had to wait forever for our order to be taken and our waters. We got pork steamed dumplings and we liked them. We would have preferred to wait or sit somewhere else and have better service though.

    (3)

  • G M.

    We only ordered the dumplings--beef/vegie, and a couple shrimp varieties. All were good, but I felt like I was longing for something more. Perhaps we should have ordered some entries is well. Or maybe the dumplings selections were all too similar. We may well come back for another try.

    (3)

  • Aniket D.

    Great selection of homemade dumplings. The house special, pork nappa, and vegetarian dumplings are all excellent options. Owner is a friendly lady who is very nice to her customers.

    (5)

  • A M.

    I went with high hopes because I could also see vegetarian dumplings on their menu. But it was a bad decision. The dumplings hardly had any filling inside. The dumpling cover also was very thick and left a bad taste. In short, I wish I would have given this place a miss.

    (1)

  • Alicia G.

    The roommate and I are slowly, but surely eating our way through every Chinese restaurant in our new hood- Rockville. Last week we finally made it to East Dumpling House. I did my best to order in Chinese but at some point, they could tell I was struggling. Sigh. Despite my language barrier mishaps, we managed to order a lamb kabob and beef kabob - $1.75/kabob (why we only ordered 1 of each is beyond me...) which were so so tasty. Reminds me of the yangrou chuanr I used to eat in Beijing. I coulda crushed like 4 of these. We clearly need to return and order far more than we did, so if you want to sample everything, you need to come with more than 2 people For our dumplings, we had the pork and chive and the shrimp and corn. The pork and chive dumplings were my favorite for sure. The wrapper was perfectly made and just the right thickness. Pork filling was juicy and flavorful. The shrimp/corn ones were good too but the ratio of shrimp to corn was kind of awful. It should really just have been called a corn dumpling because there was hardly any shrimp inside. The table next to us did a far better job in ordering but now we know for next time. Lots of kabobs, more dumplings and also the eggplant! They take cash and credit but also give you something for free if you pay with cash. And they validate parking. So-- if you plan on coming here, 1. invite me and 2. bring some cash.

    (4)

  • Norman G.

    The food in this tiny establishment is excellent--and not just the dumplings, though they are obviously the main attraction. Even when it's crowded, the service is relatively swift, and the food arrives hot.

    (4)

  • Shannon S.

    The dumplings are great and remind me of my grandmother's. All of the handmade noodle dishes are really delicious. The bubble tea is good, but the bubbles run out quickly, so you oftentimes get stuck with the agar jelly. Seating/space is the only real issue, but is made up for with friendly and quick service. Parking for the first two hours is free with validation.

    (5)

  • Lillian C.

    I had a pretty ok experience here on a weekday afternoon; there are some pros but definitely some cons. Yes: really good bubble tea, from the tastes of it, not from powder. Lamb kebob was excellent. Not as big as a full on Greek/Turkish kebob, but at 1.75, what do you expect? Very tasty and spiced with cumin, chili powder, and sesame seeds. Meh: house dumplings were ok. They were large and one order is plenty for one person (even without apps). I would have personally seasoned the filling more, adding more scallions or chives and white pepper. I felt like they were on the bland side. I would have preferred a slightly chewier skin as well. I felt that the vinegar was watered down or stale too because it wasn't as pungent as desired. The cucumber salad was interesting and marinated in chili powder and soy sauce. I thought it was too much soy for me (I prefer the light, slightly sweet and sour cukes of yuan fu). Bubble tea and water was served after appetizers- a little weird but at least not after?? No: sriracha sitting on the table was clearly stale and watered down. I was about to mistaken that the dumplings were freezer burned but when I tasted the dumpling alone it was fine. I switched to the chili oil instead and the meal improved. The meal was a bit pricey too (my dumplings were 9 dollars alone. I miss NYC dumplings!) if I had to come back, id hit up the rest of the menu a little more (maybe try a kebob entree) and the bubble teas. As for its namesake, China Bistro makes a better dumpling in these areas.

    (3)

  • Irene F.

    I came at 1 PM on a Monday. The parking lot was so full that I spent a solid 10 min just waiting for a spot to open up. If you go too far into the lot, you have to actually leave the parking lot, circle back around to try again. Or reverse precariously downhill. 1/2 Point docked. The place is small, but cute inside. Went to stand in line to order my food, 3 people in front of me- waited in line for another 15 min before it's finally my turn while a line piled up behind me like crazy and everyone is wondering out loud why it's taking so long. 1 point docked. We sit down and the food comes pretty quickly. The tofu cellophane noodle soup was decent - nothing special- my friend said it tasted like her mom's. I decided to get the House Special dumplings because they are comparable to China Bistro's Mama's Special dumpling. I got them steamed/boiled instead of fried because that is how I order them at Mama's. When they arrived, they were tiny! I broke out the meat of one of them, and it was the size of a large gumball. I've eaten my fair share of Mama's dumplings and it is always a much bigger chunk of filling. The filling was ok- but there was so little of it that it got completely lost in the wrapper. 1 point docked. My friend got the fried dumpling special, and they were so greasy that when you picked it up, there was a huge oil spill under each dumpling, and when you dipped it into the sauce, it left a layer of oil on top of the sauce too. All we could taste was grease. Out of the 8 that came with the lunch, she left 3 on the plate. Also, the lunch special says it comes with 1 cold dish, but when you go to pay, they tell you that you can only pick from a salad or a sauteed spinach. Felt like a bait and switch. 1 point docked. The soy bean milk was fine- it's homemade and they give you a little cup of simple syrup so you can make it as sweet as you like. 1/2 point added. So- there you go. 2 stars. I won't be coming back. The parking alone kills it for me.

    (2)

  • Sheryl S.

    We were REALLY in the mood for dumplings, so as we drove past Rockville, A qujick search of Yelp yielded East Dumpling. East Dumpling is a cute little place in a mini mall, with parking that's free with a purchase from any of the local shops. East Dumpling is a cute little space, bustling with student-looking patrons,. The staff were very pleasant and brisk. We tried the corn and shrimp, house special and chicken with double mushrooms varieties. The dumpling dough was too thick for my taste. The best of the three was the house special, with a filling made of meat, napa, and herbs. Chicken and double mushrooms was quite tasty. However, I wouldn't recommend the corn and shrimp ones - the ingredients were fresh but the combination just didn't work for me. I'd definitely stop in again if I were nearby, but wouldn't make a special trip. Also, I'd try some of the other offerings rather than dumplings.

    (3)

  • Xiuchun W.

    One of my favorite places to eat at in the area. I love their cold lift wide noodles, lamb kabob, seaweed salad and house dumplings, their fried rice is actually very delicious as well. Only if the place was a little larger, for now it'll do. Also, their 2 hour free parking is very convenient.

    (4)

  • Melissa P.

    Ordered pick up last night. SO TASTY AND DELICIOUS! We had the house dumplings and the lamb and carrot dumplings. I would eat the house dumplings every day if I could, they had so much flavor! The lamb were okay, but I would definitely try something else next time. The husband got general tso's chicken with fried rice and I got the lamb and chicken kabobs with lo mien on the side. The general tso's was delicious! not too sweet like some places in this area! The kabobs were super tender and amazing! The lo mein noodles were flavorful without being oily. We will definitely be back! I only wish they had a website or updated menu somewhere other than in their restaurant. We had ordered bubble teas but they didn't have the same flavors as they did on their menu. Also, many of the pictures on their menus located all over the place online say that they deliver, when they actually don't. This is not in any way their fault but I would love updated info because the food is AMAZING!

    (5)

  • nell w.

    My salad was amazing, but the House Dumplings were surprisingly mediocre. The dumplings were seriously overcooked and I don't think I will ever order those again. I'll be back for more salad, their amazing looking noodle dishes, and the kabobs.

    (3)

  • Jane X.

    I love the lamb kobob, shrimp dumplings and bubble tea! I believe it is one of the best restaurants in this area. They are always very very busy during weekends, you may wait a little bit, but the waitress there are nice. The only wish is they could have larger space!

    (5)

  • Yi L.

    busy place，busy time，nice food， nice service . I had lunch here, I love lamb shashlik so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (4)

  • Linh N.

    I highly recommend the beef noodle soup, spicy popcorn chicken, fried shrimp w/ chive dumpling, and bubble tea! One of the best bubble tea places I the area! They make their own soy milks too!

    (4)

  • Brian G.

    I found the dumplings to be on the salty side. The food is decent and I know some who swear by this place. But with my favorite dumplings only a mile away at another restaurant, I doubt I'll be back.

    (2)

  • Lily S.

    Decent place for dumplings but China Bistro is better. A friend of mine recommended this place so I went in with the expectation that this place would be very authentic and as well-done as China Bistro. We ordered the House Dumplings (their specialty) and the dumplings with red hot sauce. The House Dumplings were pretty good and came out quickly but were a bit chewy and not as tasty or well-made as those at China Bistro. The dumplings in red hot sauce were drowning in a sauce that was very watery and lacked flavor. The best thing we got were the lamb kabobs which were charcoal-grilled and were perfectly seasoned and cooked. I would highly recommend these if you were to eat here. Warning: this place is very small and the tables fill up quite quickly and are cramped together, not very ideal for groups.

    (3)

  • Tu-van L.

    Small but nice space right across the street from Rockville Town Square. Wait staff was friendly and enthusiastic about helping you with the menu and doing what they can for you to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Wanted soup dumplings and thought they had them there, but it turns out not. What they had closest to soup dumplings is regular dumplings with thicker skins and a slightly soupy filling. Tasty but not what we were looking for. The dumplings we had were pretty good, though I highly recommend you steer towards China Bistro/Mama Dumpling if you really want dumplings. You get less dumplings for the same amount of money here than you do at the other famous dumpling establishment. Fried rice was ok. Had better at House of Fortune in McLean. Also weird that they serve tea as individual cups with tea bags instead of the typical Chinese loose leaf in a teapot. I may come back to try other dishes if I'm in the neighborhood, but for dumplings you have better options elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Sherry G.

    I recommend the house dumpling. The place is so busy and we had to share table with others. The service was not that good. They accept only one credit for a table, and you have to pay cash if you consume no more than $25.

    (2)

  • Rose A.

    Overall, very pleasant experience... We ordered the pan fried dumplings, house dumplings, beef noodle soup, chicken and beef kabob. The Kabobs - it was good, but not our favorite. To us, too much dry rub/seasoning that dried up the meat. Both the dumplings were on point and def going to order again when we come back. Beef noodle was good too but going to try something new next time. Seating is a bit tight. Luckily, not too crowded today but we sat right by the door and it was too chilly to enjoy our food. Service was excellent. They checked on us a few times and offered us a free cold dish if we pay cash. All in all, we liked this place and recommend it. Worth the wait if there are no seats available.

    (4)

  • Wendy T.

    Food was delicious! The place is really small and space is limited which may make people feel as though they're out of their element but definitely worth trying! The small space is the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5! I highly recommend the Szechuan noodles! A little spicy but Soo good!

    (4)

  • Anon J.

    We literally followed our noses to find this place. We drove by and were hit with the smell of garlic and hot oil. We glanced over, saw the little place, then made a semi-illegal move to get into the parking lot. It's a bit of a dive; tiny, no real style to speak of, but sometimes that's a good thing. We tried pork chive dumplings, Chinese broccoli, and their amazing eggplant, bell pepper and potato dish. So much food the two of us couldn't finish it. Like any really good food, you get satisfied by great taste instead of eating till you're stuffed. One of the women working there came by to see if there was a problem since we had food left. We assured her it was only because the servings were so generous. We are now converts to this place and won't hesitate to make the trip from Alexandria. Can't wait to work our way through the dumpling list.

    (3)

  • Robert C.

    Their food isn't bad, however the place's so freaking crowded + service's horrendous. On top of that, I can't believe that little center makes you pay for parking... There's absolutely nothing exciting to do there and yet you gotta pay to give them business?!?! Make sure you get your parking ticket validated in the restaurant. Lamb Kabob - A bit overpriced, 2 bucks per stick. However, this place's the only one that serves those lamb sticks around the area. The lamb kabobs're pretty good, gamey, spicy & heavily seasoned. Do NOT get the Lamb Kabob Platter. It's pretty much 4 lamb kabob + rice; It's actually cheaper to get those same amount of lamb kabob and pay for extra rice lol... Dumplings - Anywhere from $7-$9. It's a bit cheaper & they give you more dumplings than China Bistro's, but they're also smaller with less meat at the same time. They're honestly not bad at all. They're not as good as China Bistro's but still decently good; Very appropriate for the price they're charging. Conclusion - The lamb kabobs're the best thing from this place. Their dumplings're decently good. The place's really cramped & the customer service's horrible. You hear nothing but them shouting to one another & yet your food'll come 30-40 mins later... Even for a take out, there's no place to sit, they'll make you wait outside. I'd come more often if this place's properly run...

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:30 am - 10
  • Mon : 10:30 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Validated
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

East Dumpling House

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