Well, perhaps this shouldn’t be a “circling back” post since the last time I was here, waaaay back in 2014 it was under the previous ownership. And then at the end of that year, the family that used to own Minh Ky (which changed hands in September of 2023) took over the “old” Dumpling Inn and created Dumpling Inn and Shanghai Saloon. So yes, that was over 11 years ago! I really wasn’t interesting in seeing the “new” DIaSS…..
But, on this day, much like happened with my long overdue revisit to El Borrego, fate intervened. I was late shopping at Nijiya and for some reason decided to head up Convoy. I had my mind set on revisiting Ju Feng Yuan for my jiaozi fix, but then I thought that I needed to finally try the chicken at Zhengxin. I saw ample parking available so I pulled into the lot. Unfortunately, there was a line at Zhengxin???? I’d already gotten a parking spot and even though El Viejon seemed like a good choice, I kinda wanted some jiaozi….so, Dumpling Inn it was.
Walking in, I noticed that even though the place was buzzing, there were many seats at the bar. So, I had a seat there.
The interior looks pretty good; it sure doesn’t look like the old Dumpling Inn to me. The customer base was mixed; though mostly non-Asian. The gentleman working the bar was really nice and handed me a menu.
I ended up ordering the Pork Dumplings ($15) and the Pig Pork Ears ($8.50). I was brought the sauces.
And yes, I’d forgotten…even at the old Dumpling Inn, they bring you white vinegar…I asked about black vinegar, but was told they were out??? Sigh…..
Anyway, my “Stewed” Pork Ears arrived.
I put the “stewed” in quotes as this was full on “rubbah”…..while I always enjoy a nice crunchiness…there’s usually “layers” of that texture along with some more gelatinous textures. This was simply just hard. It also lacked any pungency and herbaceous/anise tones. I did add some white vinegar just because I needed something other than soy sauce.
And then the jiaozi.
Well, these looked ok; but the wrappers were waxy-hard, too thick, needed some pillowiness-stretch to them.
The filling had decent sesame-soy sauce flavors, with a hint of porkiness.
But was basically a hard, dense, ground “meatball”. Which would have been ok in a won ton; but has no place in a jiaozi.
This was pretty disappointing. Meanwhile, I saw a Chinese couple (I heard them speaking Mandarin…really loudly) bust out their own bottle of Chinkiang Black Vinegar! I had to crack up.
In the end, perhaps I should have expected this. I guess some egg noodle won ton soup a la Minh Ky would have been a better choice? You know I’m really not going to go for the XLB, Orange Chicken, Kung Pao Beef, etc….
Unlike El Borrego, this didn’t quite work out. Well, at least I gave it another try after all these years. I’m headed to Ju Feng Yuan for my jiaozi fix and making sure I don’t get distracted!
Dumpling Inn and Shanghai Saloon
4625 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Hours:
Sun, Wed, Thurs 11am – 230pm, 4pm – 830pm
Fri -Sat 11am – 230pm, 4pm – 930pm
Closed Monday – Tuesday
bummer
Definitely made the wrong decision Kat!
Nothing like the pig’s ear you had in Japan huh
Oh my gosh; you remember that Dan? Man, having that pig ear down an alleyway in Hiroshima….it was sooo good! Thanks for commenting and triggering a wonderful memory!
Last time I had their XLB (years ago) there was no soup inside. Haven’t been back since.
Yes, it was definitely a mistake on my part Junichi!
I go WAY back with this property — back to the days when this was Woo Chee Chong, one of the first Chinese grocery stores around. They also made fresh Chinese dishes and I ate a LOT of takeout fried rice from there back in the late ’80s when I worked on CMB. More recently, my wife and I have had many pleasant visits to Shanghai Saloon, though usually only for the potent Hong Kong punch, served in a fishbowl. We then head to Lanzhou Noodleicious when it’s time to eat. I still miss the parking on Convoy!
Oh man; need to head back to Lanzhou Noodlelicious Peter! I was there for lunch so I didn’t partake of any of the cocktails. There’s a lot of history to this place….it’s kinda sad for me to not enjoy the food.
I have a fondness for this place since it was the unit down and absolutely tiny but for the life of me I’ll never understand how they consistently get dumplings this wrong this often – I have to assume they either have idiot dumpling makers or its all frozen. Take your pick. I still like it but honestly there are so many better dumpling places in San Diego (heck on Convoy) that it’s been forever since I’ve been there. I mean I used to like their old fashioneds but even that’s been overtaken by places like Convoy Music Bar.
I’ll never understand it’s popularity but to each their own?
I think it’s more of a Chinese “fusion” with many Americanized dishes…at least that’s what it seems like to me Loren. I mean look at Khan’s Cave, right?
I remember not long ago when San Diego magazine and ?Troy Johnson called the xlb at this place the best in SD. Yikes, those dumplings look awful!
Maybe it was the best xlb in San Diego; when it was the only xlb in SD RD? ;o) I’m wondering how much of his stuff is “pay to play”…..
I like the won ton soup. Just like Minh Ky’s version.
Yes, sort of like Minh Ky….but I’d rather just go there Soo!