Bafang Dumpling
Now open in Irvine, a Taiwanese chain serving dumplings by the plate or the freezer bag
Any time we see a new dumpling chain open up its first location in Orange County, we get excited: Even if that excitement might not be justified most of the time, there’s always a chance that a new place could become the next Din Tai Fung or Paradise Dynasty. Having previously discovered the Cerritos location of Taiwanese chain Bafang Dumpling months earlier, when we didn’t have time to try their food, we arrived at the newly opened Irvine location – Orange County’s first – with an empty stomach and open mind.
Located at the corner of Jeffrey and Walnut as an outparcel of Orange Tree Square (the plaza with Honeymee and Menya Hanabi), Bafang specializes in “signature” long bar-shaped Taiwanese potstickers, and “signature” dumplings in multiple colors that indicate their flavors. They also sell spicy wontons, fried pork and chicken chops, and soups.
Counter-based service is decidedly fast food-like in approach, and in our experience, could vary a lot from person to person based on the attitude of who is serving you. Once you get to the counter, you will most likely wait about 10 minutes with a beeper before getting your food, time that can be spent assembling a soy- and/or spicy dipping sauce from a small sauce counter.
When your food arrives, prepare to be whelmed. The signature bar-shaped potstickers are basically the same as ones served across the street at A&J Restaurant, and the dumplings – available in yellow corn/chicken, pinkish kimchi/pork, green veggie, and off-white signature versions – range from tasting lightly to moderately like their respective flavors. Also sold on site in 50-piece freezer bags for 50 cents each (less than half their cooked price here), they don’t look, taste, or pretend to be freshly made. The single best thing we ordered were the “signature noodles,” which had great chew and a pleasantly spicy soy sauce, though they weren’t distinctive – we’ve had better ones at many places nearby, including two within five-minute walking distance.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the food at Bafang Dumpling, but there’s also nothing special about it; unlike Din Tai Fung, Paradise Dynasty, and A&J Restaurant, our first visit here did not immediately inspire any desire to go back. We will consider a revisit if something major changes on the menu, or with the pricing.
Stats
Price: $$
Service: Counter
Open Since: 1998 (Taiwan), 2024 (OC)
Addresses
5410 Walnut Ave.
Irvine, CA 92604
949.898.6990
Instagram: @bafangdumplingusa