Ding’s Garden

My last visit here was a little over two years ago, so bare with me. My friends visited me for lunch, when I still worked in the area and since one of my friends was craving dumplings, we came to Ding’s Garden.
I got the Dan Dan Mian, which was mediocre. The steamed dumplings however, were pretty good and their Sheng Jian Bao was amazing. If I’m ever in the area, I’ll come back for their delicious dumplings.

This place is good. Huge portions, delicious food. Their signature dish «jiao huo jiao huo» is great, but definitely meant to be shared. I also ordered their beef noodle, which the portion was also more than I can handle. Food and service was both good. I would come back with friends next time and try other dishes.

Wanted to get some dumplings but ended up here.
Food is generally shanghainese. Keep that in mind when you order the Xiao long baos cause its not soupy =[[
Food:
Xiao long bao– meh. i wouldnt get em here. i prefer the soupy ones all the time now.
Dumplings– Not bad
Fried Dumplings– Also not bad
Fried Rice cakes– These came out really good. Not overcooked at all so it as chewy and soft. Also salty enough without being overly salty. Would get this again.
Leek Fried rice with fried pork chop– Pork chop was diff from tw style. I think the breading was different but it was bomb nonetheless. The fried rice was bomb too. Would get again.
Sheng jian bao– These came out pretty good as well. Good amt of meat and not dry.
Overall i would probably rate this place as a 3.5. Some of the stuff is just ok but rounded up cuz some stuff came out really good. For me Its enough to try once but not really enough to settle.

I came here for my 3^rd Anniversary with my boyfriend and I’m glad I had a great time. I wanted Dan Dan noodles really badly and this is by far the best Dan Dan noodles I’ve had. Everything else like the fried rice and soupy dumplings were great too. Can’t wait to come eat here again!!!

My new go-​to spot for Chinese food. We’ve been here many times over the past few months. Beef wrap. Good. Shrimp fried rice. Good. Beef noodle soup. Good. Steamed dumplings. Good. Food arrives pretty quickly, after placing your order. I can’t really think of anything negative to say, about Dings, itself. It’s located in the same shopping center as Boiling Crab. That place is terrible for parking! It’s the major reason we avoid Dings during peak meal times. Parking spots are super tight and some lanes are incredibly narrow, and with Boiling Crab sharing a parking lot with all the other establishments, parking is hard to find in this shopping center.

Yo.
Don’t waste your time looking for a restaurant open day after Christmas or New Year’s. Just head on straight to this place if you want some Taiwanese comfort food. Or even if you don’t want it coz good luck finding a non-​chain American restaurant open during major holidays.
Small hole — in — the — wall place located in a shopping plaza full of Asian restaurants, its easy to miss. Parking is very challenging especially now that they opened Boiling Crab right across but keep circling and if you’re lucky enough, a spot will open up.
Beef roll
— flavorful beef in a crispy yet chewy wrap, I liked it but for the sweet sauce. Tasted weird because of the sauce but it could also be because I’m more into savory than sweet.
Dandan noodles
— so… Is it just me or dandan is aka ramen noodles? The size and consistency is very similar if you ask me. The broth is peanut based; this was a great find and something I’d order again. I still prefer Fuzhou peanut noodle dish but dandan noodles comes in a very close second.
Pork chop noodles
— love the lightness of the broth. It doesn’t overpower any of the flavors but complement everything.
They have so many dishes I wanna try so I might find myself somewhere near the 60 and 57 Fwy next time I feel like trying some xiao lu bao or fried pork chop on a bed of fluffy rice. They look so good in the pics.
See you soon.

The cons:
Slightly more expensive than other places with noodle soups and dumplings
Xiao long baos weren’t quite as tasty as at other places
Our beef noodle soup came out initially without any beef!
Given all that, I would’ve rated Ding’s Garden 3 stars. But the woman working there (owner?) made a huge difference. I felt like she was a nice Asian mom with a big smile on her face, always asking if everything was alright and if we needed anything. Props Pseudo-​Asian Mom, you earned Ding’s Garden a 4^th star. =)

This place is so good and inexpensive! I love the XLBs, rice cakes, and pan fried dumplings!
This first time I went it was phenomenal.
The second time, the dumplings were a little tendony: P
I’m willing to forgive the second time and go again for the reasonable prices and kind waiter.

Hello 2016! What better way to welcome the new year than with an exhilarating hike and then some good food after?!
A friend and I went hiking this morning in the area and then came here after to refuel. We got the beef noodle soup, the soup dumplings, and the fried wontons. I went in thinking the star of the show would be the soup dumplings, but the beef noodle soup and the fried wontons were the real MVPs. The noodle soup was so good! Flavorful broth, fresh noodles, and super tender chunks of beef. Carbs, check. Protein, check. Big recommendation! The fried wontons were also really good. Super crispy on the outside, flavorful filling on the inside. The soup dumplings were a little of a disappointment. They were not super juicy and were just okay overall. I probably wouldn’t order them again.
Service was good. Place looked clean. Prices were also good.
Glad this place was open today. If you need a post-​workout meal, definitely get the beef noodle soup. Here’s to another awesome year!

3.5 stars
I think the beef noodles soup is bomb here when it’s on point. There have been times where the broth has been rather lackluster and muted, but there have been other times where they are on point. I particularly like the beef — it’s always really tender and not too sinewy like other places.
Other things I like to order here include:
–pan fried dumplings
–xlb (soup dumplings)
–wontons in spicy chili
Out of the bunch, I would recommend the pan fried dumplings. The dough has a nice texture and the explosion of soup broth with each bite is always a nice surprise.
I like it here. It’s a good alternative to going out in the SGV for beef noodle soup + soup dumplings. You are definitely paying for the convenience of satiating the craving without the trek. Cash only.

Dandanmien: bomb, has an extra spicy favor to it
Shengjienbao: bomb, first time i had this… juicy and very delicious
Xiaolongbao: Pretty good, i’ve had better, like at Dintaifung.
Egg soup: normal
Sliced cucumbers: not much to say here, just sliced cucumbers, still refreshing
CASH only

They have one of the best fried ice with pork chop and cold dishes!
I’ve been eating at this place since I was a kid and their pork chop fried rice is one of the must eat!
Fried Rice Pork Chop, huge portion, comes with one egg, Chinese pickles, simple egg fried rice topped with a giant piece of pork chop which is not dry and is perfectly seasoned.
Cold dishes which you can pick your own combination or order their combination. Very flavorful and you can pick how spicy you want.
My family always ordered their soup noodles and dumplings, I’ve only tried the Shanghainese pan fried buns, much smaller than I thought but it is pretty juicy and crunchy on the bottom. Taste even better with the vinegar they provide.
Will for sure come back and visit more!

This is a review long over due, been coming here for the past 3 years, they offer a pretty big menu, and a wide range of Shanghai style cold appetizer types of dishes, noodles, baos including xaio long bao, rice, fried rice cake and many other Shanghai favorite.
The food is pretty authentic and flavorful, the draw back is they do use MSG, although I never ask to confirm, but I definitely get that MSG thirst every time I had their food.
Service is not too bad, they are always pretty friendly, and quick to respond when you needed something. I don’t like the fact that this is a CASH ONLY restaurant, and they were forced to closed at the beginning of this year due to cleanliness issues (seems like they have greatly improved on that now I see the A displayed in the window), other then that this is a great place for casual lunch and dinner.

I came here for a dinner date with my boyfriend since he works in the area. When we got here, it was kind of hard to find the place since it’s tucked away inside the same plaza as Keewah Bakery and Boiling Crab.
We ordered:
1. Cold appetizer plate (pig ear and bean curd): This comes in a big portion! Definitely suitable for sharing. The pig ears are absolutely delicious. You have the option of ordering mild, medium, spicy. We ordered the mild and it was definitely enough for me haha. The bean curd is also yummy too (⁵⁄₅)
2. Pork soup dumplings: The xiao long bao here is good, although just be aware that there is a hint of peanuts in the soup dumplings. The dumplings were decent, but I’ve had better (⁴⁄₅)
3. Pork & shrimp pan-​fried dumplings: My boyfriend and I agree that these are some of the best pan-​fried dumplings we’ve ever had! Everything is perfect. The crispy texture, the flavors of the ingredients as well as the flavorful juice inside! A must try! (⁵⁄₅)
4. Shanghai rice cakes: The rice cakes were good; the texture is just right as it won’t make your jaw hurt after chewing on them for awhile. This is a big portion too, so it’s definitely shareable (⁴⁄₅)
Cash only. Parking can be tricky, especially during busy hours (most of the parking is from the people going to Boiling Crab). Service is decent and the food here is delicious!

Now that is some stinky tofu! I am not a fan of stinky tofu, but my husband loves it and it did not disappoint on the stinkiness scale.
Salted Long Beans Appetizer– A little too salty for my taste.
Stinky tofu– Pretty stinky and tasted like it.
Szechuan Preserved noodles and pork– I expected a red soup with lots of chili oil, but from the looks of it, I got the the non-​spicy version. I ate it anyways and it was pretty good. Tons of noodles, cabbage, and pork.
Steamed Pork buns XLB– These were just ok. Not sure what kind of paper/​cheesecloth it was steamed on because it stuck to the buns which tore the skin when I tried to pluck on off which caused all the juice to escape.
Deep Fried Pork Chop over fried rice– My husband wanted the pan-​fried one, but they were out. Pork was okay, a little too fatty. The fried rice was good though.
Service was decent, accepts card, almost full house on a Sunday night at 7:30pm, but we didn’t have to wait.
This place is 2 suites combined into one restaurant. Looks like the place on the right used to de a dessert shop.

Ding’s is delicious! I will have to come back again.
I came here and ordered the beef roll and pan fried pork dumplings. Both were fresh and so scrumptious. The beef roll is huge for $ 8. And the pan fried pork dumplings were so crunchy on the bottom, juicy on the inside, and the bread was nice and chewy.
The workers were rolling dumplings in the corner.
My only cons for here is that 1) they are cash only and 2) it’s a little difficult communicating (at least when I went), but the service is very friendly.
I can’t wait to come back to try other dishes.

Dings has always been my fav shanghainese in the Rowland area! This place has been opened for over 10 years. Parking is ample. The service is good and the place looks like the hole in the wall but don’t let that fool you. They have one of the best beef noodle soup ($ 7.95) and 3 item cold dish combo ($ 9). You can choose between bean curd, seaweed, pig ear, and pig stomach. They will mix the 3 picks with chili oil, green onions, and parsley. Yum!!! It goes great with a bowl of noodles or rice plate.
The beef noodles soup had a rich and flavorful mala spice. I usually get the medium spicy. They serve in a large bowl with a good amount of noddles and beef. They will throw in spinach, green onions, and parsley for garnish!!! Lastly and the best part is the sour pickle relish … You have to mix this into your bowl in order to have the ultimate beef noodle soup experience!!! Lol. Yummy…
I will continue to crave and come back for more. I just wished they opened another location in SVG!

I’ve had my fair share of dan-​dan noodles, cold dishes, and pan fried buns and this place is no different than the rest. Nothing here wowed me but that doesn’t mean they didn’t taste good, they are just… A-​OK.
My friend and I arrived on a Wednesday night around 8:30 p.m.The place was pretty empty but that’s expected on a weeknight an hour before closing. The servers here speak primarily mandarin so it would be good if you have a native who speaks the language when coming here.
We ordered the:
Szchewan Dan Dan Noodle ($ 8+): Pretty good peanut sauced noodles with just a tad bit of grounded meat. Not amazing, not spicy, but pretty decent.
Pan Fried Buns ($ 7+): These were a bit of a disappointment. You can pretty much tell that they were frozen and NOT thawed before pan frying them. The bottom part of the bun was crunchy which is good; however, the consistency of the top is very dry and oily. The inside of the bun was mushy and the worst part is, there was no soupy juices inside!
3 Cold Dish Platter ($ 9+): The cold dish came with pig eat, beef tripe, and instead of bean curd, we swapped it out for seaweed knots. This dish was okay but I wish it was a bit spicier.
Service: The people here are very nice but unfortunately, they only speak mandarin.
Parking: This place is located within the same plaza as Boiling Crab and Coconut Bay so parking is a plenty.
Tips: Szchewan Dan Dan Noodles though decent, is probably the only thing I’d come back to eat again.

Thanks to Steve S. my brother from another mother, whom I’ve never even met… I found another good spot close to home. When I saw his checkin and pics posted on his visit here, I bookmarked and off I went to check it out.
We arrived early Saturday morning and we were greeted and seated right away. I ordered — steamed dumplings. There was about 7 or 8 pcs with a side of sliced ginger. It was just steamed so it was indeed very moist. The beef wrap was ok. I’m use to it with just cilantro and the beef but for some reason they put this brown sweet sauce in it. Id prefer they hadnt. But whatever.
The beef in brown sauce with dry noodles was really good. A simple dish made just right sautéed in onions and seasoned perfectly right, made for another great dish.
From the foot traffic, it appeared to be more of a take out spot. They had several to go/​pick up orders while we were there.
It’s a quick fix to satisfy ones cravings since dishes are portioned just right.
I’d definitely return for take out night!

Ding Ding Ding!
They kept hitting it out of the park. Dish after dish, the flavor and taste just got better and better as we ate each dish that came out.
My mom’s going on a long vacation and I wanted to spend time with her before she left. With my brother and wife in tow, we headed to Rowland Heights for my mom’s favorite cuisine, Chinese.
The place itself is small, yes, they bought out the space next door, but it still looked small. Chinese style, no frills décor and simple table arrangements.
Don’t let that discourage you. The food was amazing.
Here’s the rundown:
Ding’s Special Cold Plate (Bean Curd, Pig’s Ear, Beef Tripe & Spicy Beef Tendon) — This was a perfect appetizer for four people. The taste and textural contrast of each of the ingredient was a pleasant experience. Delicious!
Szchewan Dan Dan Noodle — Wow, was this dish good. I could taste the sesame paste they used. The heat from the chili oil was just right (we asked for medium heat). The dan dan noodles were perfect as well.
Steamed Dumplings, Shanghai Style — It was my first time having dumplings with soup in it. I thought it would be boiling hot, but it wasn’t (my only complain, I like my soup hot, this wasn’t) The dumplings were very good. The soup was even better. Take a small bite on top of the dumpling then sip the broth inside, you will be rewarded nicely for it. lol.
Beef Wrap — When you think nothing can top the last dish, the beef wrap came and it did. I’ve had Beef wraps before, but this was the best I’ve tasted. The hoisin sauce made this dish sing. This was a perfect dish in my book. GET THIS ONE!
Braised Duck (half) — After we were served the dumplings, my wife spotted the gentlemen across from her order the duck and it looked good. So we ordered it. That was a very good decision on our part. That braised duck was moist and the flavor was just wonderful. The half order was a very big order, perfect for sharing. YUM YUM YUM!
Service: well it’s Chinese service. Don’t expect anything special. The waitress seemed rude at the start (slamming the menu on the table and serving us luke warm tea), but as the meal progressed, she warmed up to us and the service improved.
We answered the bell and Ding’s Garden was a bountiful harvest of culinary flavors and absolutely delicious food.
Rating: 5 Stars
Try them out for yourself and decide.
2015 Review #37