Dumpling Era - Chinese, San Bruno

354 El Camino Real, San Bruno CA 94066
(650) 737-9899
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 13, 2019

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

I first noticed Dumpling Era as I was driving by the restaurant on El Camino Real.  Since my visit in 2018, they have already updated their menu (initially a laminated menu with a pen to fill in the quantities you desired and now with more options, but no more fill in the blank).  This also means prices have gone up at least for some of the dishes.

The decor is pretty simple, but you'll find in the back that there is a glass enclosed area where you can watch the chefs make dumplings, noodles, pancakes, and more.  While both of my visits were at the very start of the lunch hour, they didn't seem quite ready for us as they were still setting up or cleaning the floor.  The good thing is that you know that they clean. 

A high top table in the center divides the room of regular height tables.  The dark tables and bright lights, and posters make the place a bit lacking in warmth, but you soon forget this when the food arrives.

During my first visit, I tried mostly noodles and dumplings. 

- Beef Noodle Soup -  This is the most instagrammable noodle dish because when you lift out the noodle, it's supposed to be one single handmade wide noodle that fills the bowl.  However, when I ordered it, it was actually two noodles because it was too short.  A bit disappointing for that reason and not much meat except for those few cubes you see in the photo.  A good amount of bok choy and scallions, but where's the beef.  At least the broth was good, but more meat is needed.  $8.90

- Beijing Style Bean Paste Noodles with Pork -  While the strips of vegetables (cucumber, carrots, and bean sprouts) were fresh and cut the same size, and the sauce was good, we were surprised that handmade noodles weren't used here - it was packaged knife cut noodles that you can find from the Asian grocery store.  This would have gotten a better review if it had been hand cut instead of the packaged stuff.  $7.90

- Scallion Pancake - Great presentation and very tasty - Lovely crisp texture on the outside and lots of layers on the inside.  I saw them make this during my second visit and watched how they take a giant roll of pancake to make these little ones.  Get this. Four stars. $6.50

- Shanghai Soup Dumplings - I like how the tops of the dumplings weren't tough because there wasn't a ton of dough at the top which you often find is the problem.  Juicy inside - good amount of soup.  Four stars. - $7.90


- Szechuan Wonton  - These were really good - tender wrapper, flavorful wontons.  Just the right amount of filling.  Four stars.  $6

- Seafood Dumpling with Cuttlefish Ink - These were great tasting and it looks like they actually give you more dumplings now than when I ordered them because the new menu shows 10 pieces (versus only 5 before which made it seem very expensive).  Four stars for taste, especially if you get more now - my photo shows it coming with a salad, but I've seen them come without a salad or sauces now.  $12

- Sweet Egg Puff - Comes with two sauces - nutella and jam/berry.  The egg puffs were disappointing, especially since I wanted to like them so much.  When they arrive with their sugar dusting, they look so appetizing, but after a bite, you notice they're not light and fluffy, but more chewy than a crunchy outside. Their competition does a better job with these. Skip it. $8

From my first visit, I found the service to be ok - a bit slow to take our order, but they were friendly.  They don't really check on you though, so if you like to be left alone, you'll like this.

For my second visit, I repeated ordering a few of the dumplings, but tried some new items.

- Pork & Shrimp Dumpling with Green Chives - Ten dumplings with super tender wrappers and fresh filling.  Can't go wrong.  Four stars.  $7.50

- Beef roll pancake: This beef roll pancake is actually pretty juicy.  While there are only four pieces after it's been cut, I like how the thin cut of beef is not dry inside the lightly pan fried pancake roll - probably because of the cucumber ;  they also drizzle a little sweet sauce on top when it's served. Of all of the recent places I've been to that serve beef roll pancake, I like the flavor here the best, even if the serving is small.  Good.   $ 8.50

- Vegetarian Chow Mein - There aren't too many vegetables in this vegetarian chow mein, but the flavors are good.  Besides the bean sprouts, carrots, and scallions, there are a few strips of black fungus and braised fried tofu.  Sesame tops the dish.  Good, but it would good if it came with more vegetables, but I guess they described it as vegetarian, so just know what you're in for.  $8.90

- Yangzhou Fried Rice - The yangzhou fried rice comes with  mushrooms, egg, pork, shrimp, scallions, and some frozen vegetables - lima beans, peas, carrots, and green beans.  Since they plate it in a bowl and overturn the bowl onto a plate, the rice actually stays warmer than when it's just served directly onto the plate.  The rice was done very well and I would definitely get this dish again.  Kids also seem to really like the mushrooms. $11

Dumpling Era is a solid place for dumplings, and their noodles and rice are generally good too.   Definitely try the scallion pancake.  This place is also very kid-friendly - there were lots of kids during my recent visits and if they are making stuff in the glass enclosed area, it's a great way to keep the kids entertained.