Vienna has a new Asian restaurant, serving handmade dumplings and other Chinese and Japanese staples.
Panda Dumpling, at 155B Maple Ave. W., recently launched a soft opening. Its official grand opening is January 18.
Owned and operated by Bing Sui and her husband, Lei Yan, the couple was encouraged by their two sons, who love Sui’s cooking, to open this first restaurant together. Yan has worked as a chef (most recently at China Express Tysons in Vienna) for over two decades and will lead Panda Dumpling’s kitchen team. Sui will run the front of the house and help handcraft the dumplings. A former teacher of Chinese dance and Peking opera in the DMV, Sui says, through an interpreter, that customers have given very favorable feedback so far.
“It was fantastic,” says Vienna resident Ryan Glass, who sampled the soup dumplings, sesame balls, takoyaki, and seaweed salad. “We are definitely going back.”
Diners can enjoy authentic steamed or fried dumplings with a variety of fillings, as well as Japanese gyoza and soup dumplings. Rice and noodle dishes like unaju and gyudon beef are available, along with fried delicacies like takoyaki and scallion pancakes.
The menu’s fare includes scallion pancakes, crab rangoon, beef noodle soup, sesame balls, and shrimp tempura. Diners on the Vienna Foodies Facebook page raved about pan-fried beef bao as well.
“Their portions are quite generous; love the classics—their versions of soup dumplings and pork dumplings were excellent,” says Vienna resident Chris Roosenraad. “The Vienna food scene has really taken off post-COVID, and I’m hopeful Panda Dumpling makes it.”
Come thirsty, too. Panda Dumpling serves boba tea and Yakult drinks.
Sui says her family’s dream to open a Chinese restaurant has taken more than two years to muster the courage and make a reality. The restaurant is open Friday-Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Thursdays from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Feature image courtesy Panda Dumpling
