As the savory aroma of freshly steamed dumplings wafted through the air, I found myself in wonder, entering not in a restaurant but a culinary experience. Sitting under a detailed semi-circular lamp, I had just the right angle to see the kitchen staff making dumplings by hand with fresh ingredients in real time. With such precision and delicacy, they skillfully prepared the dumpling dough, expertly filling each one with savory meats. From the sizzling sounds of dumplings hitting the pan with a satisfying crackle and crunch, I was drawn in and eager to get a taste of my meal.
As of right now, Uncle Dumpling is still undergoing a “soft opening” and will have a grand opening soon, according to one of the waitresses. At the moment, there has not been an official announced date for the grand opening. This restaurant is located in Roseville, along Eureka Road and Rocky Ridge Drive, accompanied with other restaurants and stores nearby.
There was a considerable number of people even though I came before the rush hour. On a different day, when I came back during a busier hour, I noticed that there was a bit more of a wait time as many customers arrived for dinner. However, the staff worked quickly in order to accommodate the new customers in the restaurant.
Inside the restaurant, many tables were spread throughout, making sure that no matter where you sat, a clear view of the staff making dumplings was guaranteed. Some tables were set outside with umbrellas for shade and evening lights. By having two different seating options, customers can pick based on their preferences without complications.
The menu had many different types of dumplings such as soup, steamed and pan-fried dumplings, which was expected because of the restaurant’s name. Other than dumplings, the menu had typical Chinese appetizers and main dishes including beef noodle soup and fried rice. Some items featured on the menu were marked as “coming soon”, such as various smoothies and teas.
I ordered the pork xiao long bao, popcorn chicken and beef noodle soup. There were both regular and spicy options, so I chose the mild spicy option. The food was served quickly, without any long waiting periods between each dish.
Xiao long bao, also known as soup dumplings, came in the bamboo steamer. Biting into the dish, the flavor of the fresh soup was delightful, and the meat, along with the hand-crafted dumpling wrapper, created a soft texture that complemented the flavors of the meat well.
Something that caught my eye in Uncle Dumpling was that they provided instructions that taught you how to eat the soup dumpling with step-to-step images. In this way, new customers who were not accustomed to eating dumplings or Chinese cuisine can have a pleasant experience as well.
Next, the popcorn chicken was served in a bowl resembling a shape of a Chinese golden ingot, which was a symbol for wealth in Chinese culture. Topped with basil, the popcorn chicken was covered with a crispy crust, giving a satisfying bite. Followed by savory yet slightly spicy notes from the pepper, this enhanced the tenderness of the juicy chicken, creating a mouth-watering symphony of texture and flavors.
With a generous serving of beef, noodles and other delicious toppings, the main dish had arrived at the table, colors resembling a landscape. The beef was tender and soft with slight spicy undertones. I especially enjoyed the noodles that delivered a chewy texture and absorbed the flavor of the soup very well. While the soup was slightly on the sweeter side, adding red chili oil balanced out the soup to my liking.
Uncle Dumpling gave me an exceptional experience along with amazing foods that made me want to try more! I would rate this restaurant a 9.5/10, and it will certainly be one of my go-to restaurants whenever I want a delicious meal.
Uncle Dumpling can be found at this address: 1485 Eureka Rd STE 150, Roseville, CA 95661.
