Thick noodles, steamy dumplings and spicy wontons bring the flavors of Shanghai, China to Fairfax, Virginia. Located in Fair Oaks Mall, Ugly Dumpling offers a variety of Chinese dishes that reimagine traditional recipes. Some popular dishes include spicy chicken wontons, cucumber salad and soup dumplings. 

Chicken Stir-fried Noodles – 5/10   $12.65

Doused in soy sauce, the thick, springy noodles priced at $12.65 made the texture of the dish appealing. The cooked spinach incorporated throughout was juicy, and the noodles were lightly coated with sauce. However, the dish could benefit from crunchy vegetables like peppers or cabbage to vary the flavors and textures of the dish. 

Additionally, because the chicken tasted dry, I would prefer the noodles without protein. The noodles were mild and tasted mainly of soy sauce, so a spicy kick would have made the noodles more flavorful. The dish earned a rating of 2/5 for taste, 2/2 for texture, 1/2 for quality of ingredients and 0/1 for appearance. 

Chicken Soup Dumplings – 9/10   $11.50

Also known as Xiao Long Bao, the soup dumplings are traditional steamed dumplings from the Jiangnan region in China. They are known for their piping hot broth and meat filling. Ugly Dumping offers a variety of protein options such as chicken, pork/crab, pork/truffle, pork/shrimp/spinach and Szechuan pork. 

Priced at $11.50, each order comes with six dumplings, which were served steaming hot. The soup inside was infused with minced chicken and herbs like thyme and garlic. The hint of ginger in the dumplings balanced the meat by providing an aromatic flavor, and the warm broth was comforting and homey. The dumplings earned a rating of 4/5 for taste, 2/2 for texture, 2/2 for quality of ingredients and 1/1 for appearance. 

Spicy Chicken Wontons – 9.5/10   $10.35

Priced at $10.35, the spicy chicken wontons were coated in a hefty amount of soy sauce, absorbing into the wontons and elevating the flavor. Unlike the stir-fried noodles, the wontons had a spicy kick due to the chili oil, but it wasn’t overwhelming. The dough was silky, and the wontons were topped with scallions and radish which added a nice crunch to the dish.

Compared to the dumplings, the wrapping of the wontons was thinner. The mix of soy sauce and vinegar that the wontons were served in made it more flavorful. The wontons earned a rating of 4.5/5 for taste, 2/2 for texture, 2/2 for quality of ingredients and 1/1 for appearance. 

Brown Sugar Boba – 9/10   $6.90

The brown sugar boba tea priced at $6.90 comes in a standard size, and it was a perfect sweet treat after the variety of savory dishes. The milk base was smooth, and the sweetness was not overwhelming. The brown sugar syrup added a caramelized flavor, and the tapioca pearls which made up 20% of the drink were soft and chewy. The drink earned a rating of 4/5 for taste, 2/2 for texture, 2/2 for quality of ingredients and 1/1 for appearance. 

Overall, Ugly Dumpling offers many traditional Chinese dishes worth trying. The wontons and soup dumplings stood out, providing a doughy exterior with a savory meat filling.

Rating Scale:

Taste out of 5

Texture out of 2 

Quality of ingredients out of 2

Appearance out of 1