Dumpling World in Everett: The Dumpling Experience You've Been Chasing

EAT99 is returning from an "extended summer break" to bring you tidings of comfort and joy: Dumpling World has opened its first restaurant in Washington State, in Everett! 

When I saw an Instagram post featuring their pan-fried soup dumplings, I wasted no time grabbing my partner-in-dumpling-crime, Maria Montalvo, to head north to an Everett Mall Way strip mall the day before Thanksgiving. 

Things to note: we almost missed out because we were unaware of their afternoon closures on weekdays between 2:30-5:00. Also, it's smaller than the image "Dumpling World" conjures - only around 20 tables total. It's a Small (brightly lit, bustling) Dumpling World--be ready to wait! You can order from either a table QR code or from the very friendly waitstaff.

Here is our conversation over the menu:

"The pan-fried soup dumplings are the reason we're here. At least we don't have to decide on those. 

"Have you ever heard of 'pan-fried thumb buns'?"

"No! Look at the picture! We have to get those."

"Curry chicken & potato steamed dumplings? Curry chicken and potato!"

"Weirdness demands attention."

"I guess three orders of dumplings is probably enough. I mean, given what we're going to eat tomorrow and everything."

"We could take some home."

"We could--"

"Well, if we aren't going to eat all of it now, we could probably order one more thing."

"True. Should we get something green?"

"No one is making us."

"Look at the noodles at that table over there. Those must be the eggplant and minced pork noodles."

"Those look incredible, but..."

"But...?"

"I just kind of want more dumplings."

"Same."

"We have a responsibility, don't we? We can't leave here without tasting the traditional soup dumplings."

"You're right."

            --Four orders of dumplings later--

PAN-FRIED PORK SOUP BUNS (4 @ $11.95)

"Oh my god."

"I've never tasted anything like this. Crunchy on the bottom, perfectly soft on top. I just seared my mouth with soup, though."

"Maybe we should poke the other two with a chopstick and let the soup cool for a minute."

"Okay, those are magnificent."

"They are absolutely stuffed!"

"What a mixture of textures and flavors!"

"We have to figure out a way to eat these every day."

"Maybe we can get jobs in Everett."

PAN-FRIED THUMB BUN, SHRIMP, PORK & CHIVE (10 @ $13.95)

"They're so plump!"

"The size of the shrimp! That shrimp is not minced--"

"You tried it with the black vinegar?"

"And the chili crisp--"

"These are like mini pan-fried soup dumplings without the soup."

"If I came here by myself I would be completely happy with my own plate of just these."

"I can't commit to that. . . yet."

CURRY CHICKEN & POTATO STEAMED DUMPLINGS  (6 @ $13.95)

"I would never think to put curry in a dumpling, but I'm so glad someone did."

"It tastes like Golden Curry, the kind that comes in the box. I love it."

"I want a whole plate of this curry over rice."

"I don't know if I will order these again over the other dumplings, but wow."

"I don't want to think about never having them again, though."

SHRIMP AND PORK XIAO LONG BAO (6 @ $14.95)

"I can't believe we almost didn't order these."

"These are the biggest soup dumplings I have ever seen. They are bags of soup!"

"The flavor!"

"The wrappers are so delicate--papery thin."

"This is the soup dumpling experience I've been chasing for years."

"These are all we really needed, or will ever need."

"Two left. I don't think they will warm up at home very well."

"You're right. We'd better eat them here."

Post-Dumpling Wrap:

What we took home: two curry dumplings and one thumb bun each. "Stretching our stomachs for tomorrow," we said. 

Dumpling World has six locations across the Lone Star State, and they chose to open their seventh here, right off highway 99. Their opening in September, followed by the November T&T Supermarket opening in Lynnwood, is just all-around great food news for us all. 

Optional Fun Fieldwork:

Visit T&T Supermarket (which replaced the old Sprouts on 99 and 196th) and be ready to discuss!

Dumpling World

620 SE Everett Mall Way #400

Everett, WA 98208 (206) 202-3626

Mon, Wed-Fri: 11:00am-2:30pm, 5:00pm-8:30pm

Sat-Sun: 11:00am--8:30pm

Tuesday: Closed

https://www.dumplingworldwa.com/