Mason's Dumpling Shop - Pasadena

I was really looking forward to ordering from here. After a long cross-country flight, I was starving and had a craving for noodles. I decided to give this place a try. I ordered the pan-fried chicken dumplings, but was disappointed with what I received.

I received a text message about fifteen minutes later notifying me that my order was ready. I tried the chive shrimp dumplings, but they were not my favorite; the chive flavor was quite overpowering, and I didn’t end up enjoying them. However, the steamed vegan dumplings were fantastic—definitely the best vegan dumplings I’ve ever tasted, with great texture and flavor. The soup dumplings had a lovely sweetness in the filling, and the steamed flaky fish dumplings were substantial, easily the best fish dumplings I have tried. The pan-fried chicken and cabbage dumplings were good as well, with just the right amount of spice for a kick. In summary, I would rate this experience a solid 4.12 out of 5. Would I come back? Absolutely! The service was quick, a nice change from Din Tai Fung. Just a note—Mason Dumplings has a thicker and chewier skin compared to what I’m used to.

We ordered the pork soup dumplings, crab soup dumplings, and stewed pork over rice, and these soup dumplings definitely satisfied our cravings. However, a challenge with takeout soup dumplings is that they can stick together, causing some to break and spill their soup when picked up. By the time we got home, a few of the dumplings were already broken. The ones that stayed intact were juicy, and we actually preferred the flavor of the pork dumplings. They were comforting and familiar, featuring a very flavorful broth enriched with plenty of ginger. We also loved the chili oil that accompanied the order. As for the stewed pork over rice, it was a bit too salty for our taste, which overshadowed the overall flavor. On the plus side, the bok choy was perfectly cooked and complemented the pork nicely. Overall, we were satisfied with our meal!

Overall decent tasting dumplings. good char, and smokey taste. the dumpling skin is a little thick on the pan fried ones. however the dumplings are EXTREMELY salty. maybe it was the day i went to eat it though... the chicken one has a strong black white pepper flavor.

Feb 5, 2022 a.d. had the vegan chicken bowl and ITS TO DIE FOR..best thing..No one died to make it! Kudos to you on making something delicious. I felt this vibration of happiness in my stomach for hours after because it was made with pure sources. Also the white rice was absolutely PURRFECT and that's no easy task to do. My request is to continue making more vegan food. You would do better as a 100 vegan cuisine restaurant or my soul wouldn't have vibrated like that!!! I plan on ordering from you the rest of my life!! Thank you