I stumbled upon this spot as I was restlessly looking for a Chinese food restaurant. The fact that Chinese characters are in the actual name of this establishment gave me encouragement to try it out. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I may have over ordered but thats not regrettable. I ordered a hot and sour soup, pork XLB, pork and shrimp pan fried dumplings, green beans and beef chow mein. Super convenient with QR code to toasttab, sharing the same tab with anyone who scans the same code and placing an order digitally without the card-receipt-signing dance.H&S soup was perfectly vinegared but could have used a tad bit more white pepper or chilies. Still hit the spot and was enough to serve 4-6.Pork XLB was delightfully textured. The wrapping was strong to withstand a few rollovers but thin enough to not be overpowering in chew. Perhaps this is regional flavor, but I found the pork to be slightly sweeter than I am used to but nonetheless pleasant with dark vinegar. Only thing missing is fresh ginger accoutrement (but again, might be a regional style of flavor profile).The shrimp and pork pan fried dumplings surprised me, in a good way. The crisp is well balanced with the chewiness of the skin and there quite a bit of juice with each bite (like an XLB!). My only wish is that they provided a pork and chive version, too.Green beans were cooked with a lot of wok heat but lacked the fermented root radish flavor that Im used to (another regional style difference perhaps?). But the texture was perfect in that it still had a snap and not overly dressed with chili oil.The beef chow mein was my partners choice and I didnt give it a try. However, he enjoyed most of it sharing that it had a good balance of Vegetable to meet ratio.Overall, will definitely come back for staples, and give the Dan Dan Mein a try!
I love this find! I was craving dumplings and did not want to deal with the long wait at DTF and Paradise. This place is definitely good, but I would still rate lower than the other two mentioned.I would say the best things I had here were their pan fried dumplings and Dan Dan noodles. The spicy wonton was not spicy, but potentially can use a little more vinegar. The Xiao long bao is decent but cannot compete with DTF as it was not as juicy as I would like. The flavor profile tastes just like home, and I enjoyed it!The cucumber garlic, although something simple, and most places taste the same, but it was perfect here, just the right enough amount of flavor, and fresh cucumbers. The potato salad is not like the Sichuan numbing spice that I am used to, and this particular batch was a tad too salty, and hopefully it was just that batch!I will definitely still be coming back and eating here, it is good, hits the spot, and easier to park!
Handmade - family owned- completely epic. A rare jewel in Orange County. I am absolutely in love. Watch them make your food authentically by hand.
Awesome hole in the wall serving fresh hand made dumplings. Gets busy during dinner rush, so be prepared to wait for one of the few tables. Easy to order and pay with the Toast tab. No need to wait for servers
This place is great. Also convenient for people in south Orange County looking for great Chinese food without having to drive north to Irvine. Its worth a visit if your passing by, and also good enough to make a trip here just to try their excellent dumplings.Stick to the dumpling dishes, which are their specialty, and avoid things like the noodles and sides.I found that for the water dumplings, the pork with cabbage tastes better than the plain pork dumplings, and for soup dumplings, the shrimp with pork tastes better than the plain pork as well.
Great dumplings in all forms. Reasonably priced and highly recommended. Noodles was not bad, but just ok.
One of the best dumpling houses in Orange County. Ive been a dozen times so far and everything on the menu is sold. The price is very fair too.
Fantastic dumplings and soups, very authentic taste with everything made fresh in plain sight. Also offers uncooked and frozen portions to go as well. The Xiao Long Bao is some of the best Ive had, definitely the best in the area.
Busy location so come early and prepare to wait. Great dumplings and the hot & sour soup were delicious. Tastes like DTF without the ridiculous prices and the old ladies make the dumplings upon ordering so dont expect super fast service as these handmade dumplings take time.
Oh my god, where to start, this place hace amazing food, love to come here every time. Freshly made noodles and dumplings. So delicious
If you want delicious xlb without the Din Tai Fung prices, this is the spot for you. Sunnys Dumpling House provides delicious food, friendly service, and a comfortable atmosphere. I also enjoyed being able to watch the staff fold dumplings behind a glass window. If you find in you could order and pay using the linked QR code taped to the table or you can flag down a waiter if thats not your thing. Great place, would recommend!
There is a very apparent “pork” smell and taste in all their pork items. We ordered pork dumplings and pork wontons, and they all had that smell. The restaurant didn’t remove the smell completely. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, don’t bother. If you know what I am referring to, you know what I’m saying.
I came here after seeing all the positive reviews, and it did not disappoint! The food is so genuine and tasty. I have not had this type of wonton soup since I came to US more than 5 years ago...
This is a great find, best dumplings in South OC. There is a wait but worth it.
Friends and I ate here today and though I have been here a few times before over the last couple years, today was probably the best. Flavors have definitely improved, and I appreciate familiar side dishes on the menu like the cucumber garlic salad and green beans. Simple but flavorful. Everything came out hot and super fresh, and we all enjoyed the xi long bao, spicy wontons and fried dumplings.
Eeek this place is SOO YUMMYYYY IM DROOLING. this is the perfect comfort food/for a rainy day. Got here around 5 on a Wednesday night and by 5:30 the place was filled and there was a wait! The xiao long bao was so amazing. The juice inside was perfect. I am still dreaming about them. Everything was perfect. 🥟🍜The dumplings look so cool with its little spider web design. You do order on your phone 📱 and pay on your phone so this is new. You don’t even have to interact with anyone. It’s kid of weird haha. Modern day I guess. You can see the chefs working on making the dumplings through their little clear divider. And their savory moon cakes are so so good. They are very expensive but worth trying one!! 🤤🤤🤤
Seriously, this is the best dim sum place around. Im going to say even better than Din Tai Fung! Yes, I said it! LOL. Sunny dumpling has great quality food, everything is made fresh, and for such a great price. The inside is nothing fancy, but it is always very clean. And the employees are very nice. Such a great place to go. We frequent it often. When you sit down you scan the QR code thats on your table on your phone and thats how you place your order. And you keep your tab open in case you want to order more food as you are eating. And then when youre done you just pay on your phone and leave. So nice and easy! Check for hours. I believe on Saturday and Sunday they are open all day with no closing in between. I think Monday through Friday they close between lunch and dinner. Between 2:00 to 4:30. And I think everyday they are open till 8:00. They are closed on Mondays.
The noodles were really bad ..dumplings were average. I dont want to recommend it.
*Edited review after going for second time*The food is actually very good which is why we went for a second time, but sadly the place was filthy both times. Its also way due for a renovation.Theres flies flying around, the floors are dirty, the tray with soy sauce and vinegar looks like its never been cleaned, the waiters walk around with this little trash can cart with a filthy trash bag in it, Its not very pleasant seeing that while eating, why not just take the dishes to the back like most restaurants do?And most importantly, my boyfriend got food poisoning this last time we went. Its a bummer since again, the food is really good, but their hygiene standards are way too low :/
When you see people on Yelp complaining about service and rave about the food, you know the place is authentic.I would say this is the best soup dumpling place in the area. I normally drive to Din Tai Fung, wait the 1.5 hr, pay the south coast upcharge. Now I can eat it whenever I want without wasting 2 hrs.Also their wonton comes with freeze dried shrimp. The little details like this makes it authentic.
The location is just nice but the food is great! Dumplings are hand made at the moment.Service is good and they are all nice.
Food is great. You order on your phone and they only take cards for payment. You do that on your phone also. Our go toos are pork soup dumplings, green beans, bok choy, and hot and sour soup. Theyve got much more. Get there early. Anytime after 7, you might not get a seat!!
The dumplings here are fantastic, and I especially love the fried dumplings (pot stickers)! I also love the sticky rice cakes 年糕 and the dan dan noodles 担担面 is really good, too! Fast and friendly service! But beware -- they take a mid-day break around 2:30-4:30...
The food is great! But the whole thing is faceless and the QR/app system used to order and pay is stupid. I didnt know I left without paying, so they tried to force close my tab through the app and add a 20% tip...not cool! They texted me and I paid my tab. And I had left a cash tip.
Dumplings are delicious. I just moved to this area, and I am so glad to find this place. The dumplings are freshly hand made. Their pan fried dumpling and green onion oil pancake are some of the best, so does spicy wontons. I took one star off because their appetizers seem not well prepared, the smoky chicken leg I ordered was very cold, just out of freezer. I guess they keep those appetizers frozen so they wont go bad if not served, but that is not the correct to serve this dishes.
Some of the best beef noodle soup in Lake Forest!!!
Order came incomplete, we had a party of 11 and they got confused and didnt delivered all the food..if you are eating here, make sure your order is complete because they will not reimburse or fulfill your missing order or pay at the end. We payed in advance and my friends didnt get their food. Shame on this guys.
Says they are open until 8:30pm on MAPS. We get there at 7:55pm and they tell us they dont take any more orders and last call is 8pm. We had 5 minutes until 8pm... They say one thing and then dont even do what they say. They do not honor their own given time they tell you to your face. Terrible! We went once before this time and food was fairly bland without adding sauces but we felt like giving it a 2nd chance since it is local. Last time we give them our time or money after that experience. The Manager should learn more manners and except guests if they want business or change your hours to 8pm so we dont drive there wasting time, gas money and expectations for eating out.
10/10 must tryAmazing foodOk locationOk serviceGreat 🥟
2nd visit: WARNING: they close the kitchen 35 min before closing and if they are busy they will turn you away sooner. Cant even order togo. We drove 20 min a cross town only to be turned away.1st visit: reminds me of the dumpling soup in China bland broth but yummy dumpling. Blah customer service, you scan a code on the table order and pay from their app & someone brings your food. Love the marinated mushrooms.
What a find!Just tried this place for the first time.We loved it! Authentic food, great flavors. The onion pancake is done differently here, really good. Yummy dumplings.Beef noodle soup to die for.We ordered a variety of dishes to try, would reorder all of them. Prices are also very fair.Wouldnt expect to find such a great place in Lake Forest!We will be back soon.
Been here twice and it hasnt failed yet. I love that you can watch them make the dumplings right there which means there fresh. Come early that close at 8
Best Dumplings I ever had. Definitely order the wonton chili oil and the cucumber in garlic!
Supper yummy and authentic! There is no need to go to Irvine to look for authentic dumplings 😋. They made it fresh, and you can see the lady who made the order right on the spot! Definitely will be back for more.
What a gem!!! Everything was amazing and tasted so fresh. Be forewarned, there could be a wait...but its worth it, and theyre efficient!
Fantastic hidden treasure. Located in the corner of a strip mall you will find authentic handmade dumplings! Fresh to order. Large, full and delicious! Chow mein and fried rice are also fantastic! Casual and easy. Oh and all dumplings can be purchased in frozen packs to take home too!
The stuff in the restaurant are so friendly and considerate! The food is so tasty that I almost forgot to take a photo! Definitely recommend!
The best spicey pig ears! I love this appetizer and all of their sauces; Chili sauces, and vinegar! I save ALL them condiments for later use when I get togos. This is basically like Din Tai Fung but way better price and less waiting time (there is still a wait list though). The food is excellent 👌
Legit Chinese dumplings. Best I’ve tried so far in OC, and I’ve had many many dumplings in mainland China. Their Xiao Long Bao steamed dumplings are amazing. Quality food and meats and a clean environment, great service. You can order and pay on your phone which is convenient. I had two plates of dumplings for about $25 so not the cheapest lunch spot but so good!!!
This place heavily depends on mobile ordering so I wish they had wifi here. My reception is poor inside. Otherwise food is great.
A very good place for dumplings. Will definitely go there again.
A great new find for foodies.Yummy menu, friendly service.
We came here as a group of five and were treated to lovely service and even better food. The staff were polite despite a slight language barrier and the food came promptly. We ordered xiao long bao, pan fried pork dumplings, boiled pork and chive dumplings, scallion pancakes, steamed salty egg rice dumping, and garlic string beans and broccoli.Every dumpling was fresh, juicy, and delicious. The vegetables were absolutely gorgeous and the green onion pancakes were crispy and light. As an added bonus, we accidentally left a backpack there and the staff were nice enough to keep it there a bit past close for us to pick it back up again! Definitely stop by if you like dumplings and great people!
The food here is incredible. Freshly made dumplings. Its a simple style place, nothing fancy and its small but the GOODNESS is Delicious!!
I walked into the restaurant and saw two women making dozens of dumplings by hand, and immediately thought to myself, I am absolutely in the right place, and my tastebuds are in for a treat!We had the pan fried pork dumplings and the beef chow mein, and both were excellent. My wife and I are looking forward to returning and trying the Xiao Long Bao (as early as tomorrow) - thrilled to have such authentic and wonderful cuisine so close to home!!
Came here with some friends for dinner and we all agree that the dumplings are amazing. There were big portions that we could share among the table and all of it was super tasty and hit the spot! Will definitely come back :3
The food is good. The service is questionable. The restaurant is “open” until 8:30, but they won’t prepare food after 8:00.
One of the best in OC hidden gem I would say. Totally worth the wait!
I drive all the way from San Diego to eat this. Their baos and dumplings make me so happy. Its like a piece of home (China) here in Cali.
I have tried to make it there three times and all three times weve been turned away. I thought the place closes at 3 we got there at 2 and they said they stopped serving and they were closed. Im very disappointed. They were also very rude.
The best buns I ever had
Ordered pork and shrimp dumplings. So good, tasty, juicy and just delicious!!! First time here and it didn’t disappoint.
Wow. Just Incredible. The Handmade Dumings & Wontons are so good you dont need sauce at all. Took home a 50 pc. bag of the frozen shrimp & pork wontons.
Steamed and fried dumplings made fresh to order. Dine in for the best experience. Nothing quite like a fresh batch!
Tried calling and ordering 3 times now. They are too busy to take calls. And they are too busy in person. Ill find another spot.
Very bad attitude, they claim close 8:30pm but they refused entry at 8pm
We ordered the cucumber salad, hot sour soup, soup dumplings and boiled dumplings. All was pretty good and great bang for your buck.
Food was great!
Still great. Sunny Dumpling House reached public consciousness and there can be a significant wait. Totally worth the wait.
Fresh dumplings... best inbthe OC
Very tasty, feels like home made, everything is fresh best experience ever
The best dumplins Ive ever had. Freshly made, delicious!
Giving Din Tai Fung a run for their money.
Great food, authenthic chinese food without breaking the bank! Deff a recommendation to anyone who loves dumplings
Loved their wontons and soup dumplings.
Dumpling and Xiaolongbo are perfect.But dont order the noodle, it is made from instant noodle.
Lovely little dumpling spot with some authentic tasty goodies. Definitely worth a try.
This place is legit! We skipped the general Tso and focused on the amazing bao and dumplings. Everything was absolutely delicious. Well be back!
Awesome dumplings at a great price. Highly recommend this joint
Food is great. Service is terrible.
These dumplings taste amazing! I love that they are so close to my house!
AMAZING !!!! I eat here at least twice a week it’s that good. Everything is made to order and so delish.
Excellent experience on our first visit. Wil be going back!
Great food, price so so
Great place. Very friendly staff and great dumplings
Best dumplings I have found around this area. Food is great.
Ate too much of this fantastic food
Best dumplings nearby! Don’t miss Xiao Long Bao/steamed dumpling
Absolutely delicious. Glad I found this place.
Very delicious home made dumplings
Homemade dumplings. Highly recommend it!
Yum!
It is is very nice
Delicious dumplings and great service.
Good restaurant
Bought today for first try and really good!
So good!
Dan dan noodles are the best!!
Could not be better.
Amazing food!!!
Authentic and delicious. The flavors were on point. We had the steamed xiaolongbao, pork and leek boiled dumplings and the spicy pork and vegetable wontons. Delish! Agree with the other reviews that this gives DTF a run for their money…but no wait and less money. We will be back
I ordered Xiaolongbao and dumplings. I wanted a scallion pancake, but I said no. I wanted to order a side dish of cold potato shreds, but I also said no. Forget it, then I will have dried flat green beans and cold cucumber.As a result, the xiao long bao and dumplings were unqualified, the cucumber was bland and tasteless, and the dried green beans were dead salty and tasteless. There is no next time. (I dont even want to take pictures)
The buns are good but don’t order shredded potatoes 😂😂😂
What was I expecting...just average...the service was pretty good
Total reviews rating 4.6
104 Reviews for Sunny Dumpling House 2024:
Review №1
2023-11-12 19:37:02Very good food. The soup dumplings and, generally, everything was tasty. I didn’t really like the system for ordering food off of your phone and paying from your phone, but the food was great. There can sometimes be a wait. I do like the pork dumplings better than the XLB. Do NOT order the beef stew noodles. They were terrible.
Review №2
2023-10-17 17:38:44We came here for brunch around 11:30 on Saturday and there was a line waiting outside. You have to sign your name in the waiting list. Fortunately the wait wasnt too bad - only 10-15 min. The menu is viewable by scanning the QR code and you pay via credit card through the app so make sure you bring a phone with good mobile data.We ordered the scallion pancakes, xiao long bao, seaweed salad, sweet and sour cabbage, and small wonton soup. The scallion pancakes were crispy but it was fried in lots of oil, so dont recommend it if youre on a diet. The Xiao Long Bao was good and juicy.Overall it was a good experience and I would visit again if I was in the area.
Review №3
2023-08-12 20:46:06The food here was incredible! I came here with a group and we ended up sharing the majority of the menu. The Dan Dan noodles were my favorite, followed by pan-fried dumplings and Xiao bao dumplings tied for second. But its pretty hard to go wrong with anything here.
Review №4
2023-09-19 08:44:22🥟🍜 If youre a fan of authentic Chinese dumplings and mouthwatering dishes, this hidden gem in Lake Forest is an absolute must-visit! 😍👐 Picture this: skilled ladies expertly handcrafting fresh dumplings right before your eyes. These are some of the best youve ever tasted, and the lack of bells and whistles only adds to the charm. 😌🍲 Now, lets talk about the beef stew noodle soup – an explosion of flavor in every spoonful. The best part? Youre in control of the spice level. 🔥💧 And those Pork XLB (Xiao Long Bao) dumplings? Filled with liquid soup thats downright heavenly! Trust me, you cant stop at just one. 😋📲 And heres the modern twist – you can place your order seamlessly with a QR code and order online. Convenience meets authenticity at its finest! 📱Dont let the unassuming exterior fool you; this place is a culinary treasure waiting to be discovered.
Review №5
2023-08-22 16:20:40The dumplings are Phenomenal. Without a doubt, the best dumplings Ive had. And Ive been to places in New York and San Francisco which fail to deliver such satisfying dumplings.Even though this is a dumpling house, do not let this discourage you from bringing a vegetarian friend to this restaurant. I had the Garlic Broccoli which was almost as good as the dumplings but far more healthy. Broccoli is great at soaking vinegar and other sauces. Definitely recommended above P.F. Changs!
Review №6
2023-07-14 23:10:54Now if you’re coming here thinking it’s going to be a boujee dumpling spot made for the Gram, you will be shook. This is how I think of a Chinese restaurant. No beer, no booze, disposable plates, plastic cups, and delicious food.You order online and there are no servers. It’s pretty bare bones but they are doing this to turn over the tables. But the prices are cheap and it has some of the best dumplings I’ve had. I would go out of my way to come back but I wouldn’t wait in a line. Hint, go early, you’ll be at the front of the line at the open.
Review №7
2023-07-03 19:40:52They are a small, local chain with 3 or 4 locations scattered around southern California. Its more of that family-owned Chinatown dumpling shop feel, rather than a Din Tai Fung setup. This is a perfect addition to Lake Forest and I hope to see some more of these dumpling shops around Orange County.My recommendations:- Your choice of XLB- Your choice of Chow Mein or Dan Dan noodles (if you like spice)- Pan Fried Pork Dumplings (my favorite)- Pork and Vegetable Spicy Wonton- Garlic & Chili String BeansOrdering is done at your table by scanning the QR code on the table surface. Then you proceed to selecting menu items via Toast Tab on your mobile browser, and then completing the checkout to place your order.The secrets out on this place, so write your name on the waitlist and expect to wait a bit during prime dining hours. This place is worth the wait.
Review №8
2023-06-22 04:44:50This place is amazing! Sunny Dumpling House has the best dumplings around. You have the staff working hard in the front in plain sight making these amazing delicious dumplings. Ive told many friends about this place and they all agree. Our favorites are the pork dumplings and wanton soup. We always get the green beans as well. The green beans have a delicious flavor to them. The price is very fair. On busy days weve waited maybe 30 min but so worth the wait. But we usually just walk in and find a table. Definitely try this place out. You wont regret it.
Review №9
2023-06-26 03:51:4310/5 for this place. The food was worth coming back for. Line was long the first day and now I truly see why, the dumplings are amazing.I tried 3 kinds steamed and pan fried pork and pork and shrimp wontons. Pan fried was the best one to me, I ate two orders. I think 10-12 per order. Everything was really tasty.Now I recommend getting there early. I got there at 1040 and there was about 5 people in line at that time. The food is worth even getting there later and the wait inline.A must try in my book. Kid friendly family environment or great for a date night.
Review №10
2023-11-21 05:42:51Great place for freshly made dumplings and spicy wontons.Good for small groups to share family style.