Dumpling King City Square Vancouver: Xiao Long Bao, Wontons & Dumplings Review

Dumpling King, City Square Shopping Centre

Featured Items: Wonton Noodle Soup ($9.99, 6 pieces), Pan-Fried Beef Dumplings ($9.99, 10 pieces), Xiao Long Bao ($7.99, 5 pieces)

Verdict: The xiao long bao and plump wontons are the stars. Skip the noodle soup broth and go straight for the dumplings.

Happy Sunday. After walking more than 20k steps for the croissant crawl, I was hangry. Hubby suggested we head to City Square Shopping Centre for a late lunch slash early dinner. Of course, while I was there, I figured I might as well take some photos and start putting together a guide for their food court.

After scoping things out, we decided to grab dumplings from Dumpling King.

I got the wonton noodle soup ($9.99) with six plump wontons. The wontons themselves are amazing, well-seasoned and generously filled, but the soup and noodles are a bit bland in comparison. Next time, I'd skip the noodle soup format entirely and just order the wontons on their own. They're perfect comfort food as we head into the fall and winter months.

Wonton noodle soup: plump wontons carry the dish, the broth doesn't.

Hubby went for the pan-fried beef dumplings ($9.99, 10 pieces), and they're alright. I'll admit I don't often see beef as a dumpling filling, so I'm genuinely not sure if that's just my own blind spot or more of a regional specialty. China is massive, so it's entirely possible beef dumplings are a specific regional thing I just haven't come across much.

Pan-fried beef dumplings: crispy bottoms, a less common filling.

Lastly, of course, I couldn't resist a good xiao long bao ($7.99, 5 pieces), and it did not disappoint. It's quite ginger-forward, and that bright ginger flavour does a great job balancing the richness from the pork soup inside. You know it's going to be excellent when the person behind the counter, who barely speaks English, gives you the sweetest smile while folding the dumplings right in front of you.

Xiao long bao: ginger-forward and perfectly balanced.

Note to self: buy frozen dumplings next time, because I am absolutely craving more of these. Have you tried Dumpling King at City Square? What's your go-to order? Let me know in the comments!