Color Me Dumplings: Bao Yuan Dumpling House 宝源饺子屋

Dumplings should look as delicious as their insides taste. I’m not sure if dumplings died purple, green, and orange will actually appeal more to your taste buds and although the colors do not affect the taste of the dumplings, they certainly make the whole “jiaozi 饺子 experience” a whole lot more colorful.

Bao Yuan Dumpling House 宝源饺子屋 (click link for Time Out Review) is known for their brightly colored dumplings and extensive range of fillings.  With options for both meat-lovers and vegetarians, there is something for everyone.  I particularly enjoyed with vegetarian dumplings with everything from smoked beancurd, celery, mushrooms, eggs, chives, cabbage, carrots and cellophane noodles.  With unique ingredients like lotus root, eggplant, mushroom and carrot, you should try at least several different combinations and with an order of 6 priced between RMB 6-12, you can afford to try as many different combinations as you like!

Don’t forget to also order a few cold dishes and standard Beijing hot dishes are also available (but I recommend sticking to just different varieties of dumplings supplemented by some cold dishes and cold beer).

LumDimSum Snapshots of Bao Yuan Dumplings 宝源饺子屋’s interior and exterior:

Review of Bao Yuan Dumpling House 宝源饺子屋: North of 6 Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang District 朝阳区麦子店街6号楼北侧, Tel: 6586 4967

Best Part:

• Quite possibly the best dumpling house in Beijing (I also really like Xian Lao Man 馅老满 on Andingmennei dajie)

• An extensive menu of different dumpling fillings with option to color-dye your jiaozi fun colors like green, orange and purple with vegetable juice (carrots, tomatoes, purple cabbage and spinach)
• Very reasonable prices with orders of 6 dumplings starting at RMB 6
• Nice, simple decor with different rooms inside
• Non-smoking section-hooray!
• Staff was friendly and very capable of making order recommendations according to your taste preferences

Comments:

• As with most local Chinese restaurants, the turn-over is quick so if the restaurant is full, it won’t be too long of a wait before you’re seated
• They start by giving you two menus – stick with the one featuring dumplings and cold dishes
• Drink menu is limited, I recommend cold beer with dumpling dinner
• This is a great option to bring out of town guests who want a new dumpling experience!

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 6
• Service: 6
• Overall Experience: 7