Restaurant Review: Northern Dumpling Kitchen

Northern Dumpling Kitchen
Unit 52A, 550 Hwy #7, E.
Richmond Hill, Ontario

I have been on a request to do another Dumpling Restaurant Review.  After getting a few feedbacks from my facebook comments,  I have been discouraged that nothing will really taste like the real northern style dumplings.  The other comment I received is that this place is better than Chinese Dumpling House.

I've been to this place around 4 times prior to this review.  Going in, I tried to order the same type of dumpling, so I have something to compared with, on the menu there wasn't any items with chives in it.  There was around 4-5 pages on the menu with a good selection.  All the items had a chinese and english description with a number so ordering wouldn't be a problem since their english is not really their strong point.  While we were in there was a decent amount of people in there around 1:45, and we didn't have to wait for a table.  There was 2 caucasian males that was also eating there, and seem like they are returning customer.  So we ordered 3 dishes for lunch.


A shanghai rice cake ($6.50) made of soft dough cooked along some shredded pork, shrimp and green/red peppers. The dish was pretty good, and better than the one that is served at Asian Legend.  I personally prefer the rice cake served with a darker sauce and only with shredded pork and cabbage.  When I get a chance I will go review another dumpling place which is rated really well in toronto magazines and other food review boards.


Next came the Pork and Leek Dumplings.  I don't remember the price exactly but I believe it is between $4-5.  Reminder to all, inside the dumpling may be very oily.  Recommend to eat these dumplings with vinegar.  Came out steaming hot.  Once in your mouth, the flavor of the meat combined with the cabbage was awesome.  I enjoyed this dish the best of the 3.


Lastly came the deep fried pork and leek dumplings.  They do offer other meat other than pork, but I wasn't too interested in lamb or shrimp dumplings today.  These things was packed with oil inside, so please becareful when eating and oil can be everywhere, including burning the inside of your mouth.  I think these were okay, because I've had better from Ding Tai Fung and Asian Legend.  The price of this plate is also really reasonable, also around $4-5.

Lunch for 2 ended up to be $20 with tip.  Food experience was good to satisfy my hunger.  Many more people love eating at this place and said its one of the better places around.  I would rate this place exactly the same as Chinese Dumpling House.  One thing I didn't get a chance to visit in all my review was the restroom and how it was presented.

Happy Eating and enjoy!

Y

Restaurant Review: Chinese Dumpling House

Chinese Dumpling House
4188 Finch Ave East, Unit 12-13
Scarborough, Ontario

I was at a desert place in a store next door and then went for dinner and found this incredible dumpling place.  Its right at the corner of Finch Ave and Midland Ave.  It is actually my second time there today and I enjoyed the food both times and the prices are awesome.  They serve northern chinese food where dumplings are their specialty.  Other restaurants that are like this is Asian Legend and Ding Tai Fung.  Menus are relativity the same and with lots of selection.  As you enter the store there is plenty of seating and it was quite busy for a Thursday night around 7pm.  There was only one waitress but service was good.  Only chinese people where inside the restaurant at the time.

We opened the menu and the prices are very cheap.  Although there was some problems with the menu such as the headings not matching what was listed below, such as under noodles section, you would find dumplings.  They had lots of selection.


Cucumber with Jelly

This was the first dish we ordered and it came out very quick.  It was good, the cucumbers were fresh and I never had this type of jelly before so it was a little different to me.  I prefer it more springy, but overall it was still a good dish to start off with.  I forgot to mix the dish, so I ate a portion with lots of minced garlic.



Pork Dumplings with Chives (water) 15 pieces

This was the second dish we ordered and there was two style of this dish, and we chose the water one.  I ate this dumpling with brown vinegar and it was delicious.  This was the best dish of the night, and was as good as all the other places.  I would recommend this to everyone.  I sat near the window seat and they had a neon green and red lights near the window which made my photos turn out a little greenish red.  They actually gave more than 15 pieces, and its by far the cheapest place for top quality dumplings.


Noodles with Meat

I was in the mood for some noodles. They had some with soup, but I've decided to get this dish to share.  On the menu this type of noodle also comes with chicken, but I've decided to get the one that was classified as meat.  It had pork, green peppers, cabbage, thin noodles, and some onions. The one I had at Asian Legend was much better but for $5 I can't be complaining.  The noodles and toppings were fresh.

When the bill came the total of these 3 dishes came out to $18.50.  This was a meal for two and we were both full after the meal.  Didn't get to use the washroom to review that, and the atmosphere was good, it was your typical chinese restaurant, they had TVs playing a chinese concert.  The waitress spoke english and was nice.  It was a second good experience and for sure will be heading back some other time to try out their other items.  I would rate this place 4/5.

Y