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Soup dumplings — aka xiao long bao, XLB, or juicy buns (perhaps the most commonly used name in the Boston area) — aren’t too hard to find around Boston, especially in Chinatown and Allston, with a couple options across the river in Cambridge as well. But they’re a little harder to find in Somerville, aside from at Zoe’s Gourmet Chinese Cuisine on Beacon Street, just outside of Porter Square.
Now there’s a new option in town, nestled up on Spring Hill in the former Yummy Hut space (217 Highland Ave., Somerville): Dumpling Kitchen. The tiny, counter-service spot is primarily a takeout and delivery joint, but there are a couple of tables for those who want to (carefully) slurp soup dumplings right away.
There’s plenty more available, too. The menu includes a variety of Chinese-American delivery staples, from crab rangoon to beef teriyaki to General Gau’s chicken, but dig deeper into the menu for spicy Sichuan seafood dishes and mala pots, a dry wok frog dish, preserved egg with chilled tofu, roast beef wrapped up in a scallion pancake, and lots more.
Dumpling Kitchen is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.
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• Dumpling Kitchen [Official Site]