Our Story

We Make Ugly Food for Beautiful Moments — The Ugly Dumpling Story

Ugly Dumpling was built on a simple belief: the most unforgettable food comes from human hands, honest ingredients, and recipes that don't cut corners — no matter how they look on the plate.

Ugly Dumpling Handmade XLB Edison NJ
How It Started

Born in Edison. Built on Imperfection.

Our founders grew up eating at dumpling stalls in China — places where grandmothers shaped dough by feel, not by recipe cards. That muscle memory, that intuition, that care — that's what we wanted to recreate.

We opened our first location in Edison, NJ with one obsession: make XLB as good as the ones we grew up eating. Not a perfect Instagram aesthetic. Real food. The kind where the wrapper is a little irregular, the pleat isn't perfectly uniform — but the broth inside is extraordinary.

We opened our doors and the lines started forming. Not because we were pretty. Because we were good.

What Drives Us

Our Mission & Values

To make authentic Chinese dumplings and wok cuisine accessible to every table — cooked with skill, served with warmth, and priced so you can come back tomorrow.

🤲

Handmade, Always

Every dumpling skin is made fresh. Every filling is mixed each morning. We don't use pre-made frozen wrappers or factory-formed dumplings. This is non-negotiable.

Wok Fired

Authentic Technique

Our XLB broth is an 18-hour pork bone reduction. Our wok hei comes from cooking at temperatures most kitchens can't reach. Our chefs train for years before they touch the XLB station.

🌿

Fresh Every Day

We prep daily. If it wasn't used today, it doesn't go on tomorrow's plate. Our proteins and produce come from regional suppliers whenever possible.

🏠

Welcoming to All

Dumpling culture is communal culture. Our restaurants are designed for sharing — first dates, family dinners, solo lunches. No reservations needed. Everyone welcome.

The Name

Why "Ugly"?

"Ugly" is a badge of honor. In traditional dumpling kitchens, a perfectly pinched dumpling takes years to master. The ones that look a little rough around the edges? Those are made by human hands — not machines. They're denser, juicier, and more honest.

We celebrate the imperfect. We celebrate the handmade. We celebrate the ugly — because that's where the flavor lives.

8
Locations
4
States
18hr
XLB Broth
Our Journey

From One Location to the East Coast

Ugly Dumpling grew from a single Edison NJ location into one of the East Coast's most recognised dumpling brands — without compromising on the things that made us worth visiting in the first place.

2022 — Edison NJ

The Flagship Opens

First location opens at 561 US-1, Edison NJ. Walk-in only. Lines form within weeks. People drive from 40 minutes away for the Classic Pork XLB. The first week, we ran out of broth aspic by Thursday — and had to close early. We never let that happen again.

2022 — Linden NJ

Second Location — Legacy Square

Linden NJ at Legacy Square opens six months after Edison. The menu expands — Chicken Kimchi Dumplings are introduced as a Linden exclusive and become one of the location's most-ordered items. The kitchen team doubles.

2023 — Holmdel NJ & Parsippany NJ

Bell Works & Morris County

Ugly Dumpling enters the Bell Works complex in Holmdel — one of the most architecturally distinctive food halls in New Jersey. Parsippany follows, extending our reach into Morris County and North NJ for the first time.

2024 — Virginia & Delaware

Richmond VA · Fairfax VA · Newark DE

Three new locations in a single year. Richmond VA at Willow Lawn becomes the brand's fastest-growing market. Fairfax VA at Fair Oaks Mall introduces Ugly Dumpling to Northern Virginia and DC-area diners. Newark DE, near the University of Delaware, targets a college-town market that proves loyal from day one.

2025 — Hamden CT

Connecticut Debut

Ugly Dumpling Hamden CT opens at 2100 Dixwell Ave in New Haven County — our Connecticut debut and 8th location. The CT market has been one of the most requested via social media for three years running. New York and Pennsylvania remain on the roadmap.

Recognition

What People Are Saying About Ugly Dumpling

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The XLB here is legitimately one of the best in the country outside of dedicated dim sum destinations. The broth is clean, complex, and doesn't taste like a shortcut was taken anywhere. Rare."

Google Reviews — Edison NJ
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Drove 45 minutes from the Bronx specifically for the Pork & Truffle XLB. Worth every minute of the drive. The truffle doesn't overwhelm — it just adds a quiet depth that makes the soup inside taste like something you'd pay triple for elsewhere."

Google Reviews — Edison NJ
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The Hamden CT location has become my weekly lunch. Happy Hour prices for the XLB ($8 for 6) are genuinely hard to believe given the quality. This is what New Haven has needed for years."

Google Reviews — Hamden CT
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Braised Beef Noodle Soup — ordered it on a whim, did not expect it to become my comfort food. The broth is six hours of work in a bowl. The noodles are fresh. The beef falls apart. I'm not being dramatic when I say this is the best thing I've eaten in Richmond."

Yelp — Richmond VA
4.7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Average across 1,284 Google reviews
About the Brand

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Ugly Dumpling start?
Ugly Dumpling started in Edison, New Jersey in 2022. The flagship is still operating at 561 US-1, Edison NJ 08817 and remains the most complete location in the brand — widest menu, full cocktail program, original kitchen team.
Does Ugly Dumpling use fresh or frozen dumplings?
Everything is made fresh, every morning. Ugly Dumpling does not use pre-made frozen wrappers, factory-formed dumplings, or broth concentrate. Every wrapper is hand-stretched. Every filling is mixed fresh. Every broth batch starts the night before for the 18-hour reduction. This is the non-negotiable standard across all 8 locations.
What type of pork is used in the Classic XLB?
Ugly Dumpling sources Berkshire (Kurobuta) pork shoulder for the Classic Pork XLB. Berkshire is a heritage breed with significantly higher fat marbling than commodity pork, which produces a richer, more flavorful filling. It costs more — and it tastes like it.
Is Ugly Dumpling a chain?
Ugly Dumpling is a growing multi-location brand with 8 East Coast restaurants. It's not a traditional franchise — all locations are centrally operated with consistent kitchen standards, supply chains, and recipe control. The handmade process is not franchised or scaled via shortcuts.
How many locations does Ugly Dumpling have?
As of 2025, Ugly Dumpling has 8 locations: Edison NJ (flagship), Linden NJ, Holmdel NJ, Parsippany NJ, Hamden CT, Richmond VA, Fairfax VA, and Newark DE. New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland are listed as future expansion targets.
The Numbers

Ugly Dumpling by the Numbers

From a single kitchen in Edison, NJ to one of the most recognized dumpling brands on the East Coast — here's what the work looks like at scale.

8
Restaurant Locations
NJ · CT · VA · DE
18hr
XLB Broth Reduction
Pork bone, never shortcut
1mm
Wrapper Thickness
Hand-stretched, never machine
7
XLB Flavors
Classic to Truffle
100%
Handmade Daily
Zero frozen wrappers, ever
4.7★
Average Rating
Across 1,284+ reviews
Our Technique

What Makes Ugly Dumpling's XLB Different

Xiao Long Bao (小笼包) — the soup dumpling — is one of the most technically demanding dishes in Chinese cuisine. The challenge: seal a meat filling and liquid broth inside a paper-thin wrapper, then steam it without the skin tearing, the broth leaking, or the filling overcooking. Most restaurants use shortcuts. We don't.

The Broth Aspic Method

Liquid broth can't be sealed inside raw dough. Instead, we make a broth aspic — we reduce pork bones for 18 hours, then chill the stock until it solidifies into a gelatin. That gelatin is mixed with the meat filling, and when the dumpling steams, it melts back into hot, fragrant soup inside the wrapper.

The 1mm Wrapper

Our wrappers are hand-stretched to approximately 1mm thick — thin enough to be translucent, strong enough not to break. Each wrapper is pleated with 18 folds minimum. This is done entirely by hand, every morning, by trained dumpling chefs. You cannot achieve this with a machine.

The Steaming Protocol

XLB are steamed in bamboo baskets over boiling water for exactly 7–8 minutes. Too short and the filling is raw; too long and the skin breaks. The basket must be lifted carefully — the broth inside is extremely hot. Eat within 60 seconds of leaving the steamer.

How to Eat XLB

Place the XLB on a ceramic spoon. Bite a small hole in the top or side. Let the broth flow into the spoon. Drink the broth first, then add ginger strips and black vinegar, and eat the whole dumpling. This sequence — broth first — is the correct way to eat XLB.

About FAQ

Common Questions About Ugly Dumpling

Where did Ugly Dumpling start?
Ugly Dumpling started in Edison, New Jersey. The founders grew up eating at dumpling stalls in China and wanted to recreate that experience on the East Coast — handmade wrappers, 18-hour broths, and none of the shortcuts that most Western Chinese restaurants take.
How many Ugly Dumpling locations are there?
There are 8 Ugly Dumpling locations across the East Coast: Edison NJ (flagship), Linden NJ, Holmdel NJ, Parsippany NJ, Hamden CT, Richmond VA, Fairfax VA, and Newark DE. New locations are planned for New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Are the dumplings really made fresh every day?
Yes. Every location preps fresh wrappers and fillings each morning before opening. We do not use pre-made or frozen wrappers. The broth aspic for XLB is made in batches and kept refrigerated. When supply runs out, the item is 86'd for the day — we don't substitute or reuse.
What is Ugly Dumpling's signature dish?
The Classic Pork XLB (Xiao Long Bao) is our signature — Berkshire pork, 18-hour broth aspic, hand-stretched 1mm wrapper, 18 pleats, steamed in bamboo baskets. It's $11.50 for 6 pieces and available at all 8 locations.
Is Ugly Dumpling a chain or independent?
Ugly Dumpling is an independently owned restaurant group — not a franchise. All 8 locations are operated under the same ownership with consistent quality standards, centralized recipe development, and the same fresh-daily handmade commitment across every location.

Come Taste the Difference

Find your nearest location and experience what handmade really means.

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