Juan's Vegetarian Dumplings

I just can't say I like these Juan's Vegetarian Dumplings. The skins are alright, and they fry up or steam up nicely, but I don't really like the flavor. The filling is primarily veggie protein, which is normally something that I like, mixed with a little bit of assorted vegetables and noodle bits. The filling is sort of nutty, but not in a good way. I hate to be crass, but it's a little barfy in flavor, and in appearance. I couldn't face eating more than a few of them in a sitting. These are a do-not-buy in the future. I've seen veggie buns by "Juan's" at the H Mart, but I am not sure if I will be willing to buy them. Oh well.

Score: 2.5/5 - I can eat these, but I will not willingly choose them again. The filling is sort of nutty-beany in a bad way... If it were just me, I'd give them a 2, but Ross gave them a 3.

Trader Joe's Thai Vegetable Gyoza

Trader Joe's is a great place to shop. I love their snacks, baked goods, produce, cheeses, wines, and frozen goodies. They don't have a huge amount of things that would be considered dim sum, but they've got a little stuff... These Thai Vegetable Gyoza are pretty good. The filling is standard veggie, but well balanced with cabbage and carrot. They have a hint of ginger in them that some folks go wild for. The dough has that sort of restaurant perfect shape and texture. Generally, these fry up nicely. The filling isn't as fresh as a restaurant version would be, but these are pretty good.

Score: 3.5/5 - I think for other people these would be a 4. I know Rydia loved them! I am not in love with the flavor (I have trouble with strong ginger flavors), but they are a good package.

Kimbo Mix Vegetable Bun

The ingredients lists on some dim sum things include stuff I have no clue about and have to look up online. For example, these buns contain tremella, a type of funghi that is apparently parasitic on other funghi. Well, it tasted fine. Overall I was not huge on these buns. They were just kinda squishy, and a little too large for my tastes. The flavor of the assorted vegetables was pretty plain, and they were cooked enough that there wasn't much to the texture, just kinda mushy. I can't say I was sold on these.

Score: 2.5/5 - These were just OK.

Vegetable Buns

So these vegetable buns don't have an identifying brand in English. They are pretty different than the typical vegetable buns. They have a lot of pretty tough bok choi and little bits of soy protein. The bun dough even has a little more toughness, it's a little more bready than typical. The filling is on the drier side, but it stayed in the buns pretty well. In general, vegetable buns tend to have more dough than filling, and these adhered to that. I would say that I liked these but did not love them. Also, I think I would like them if they were a little smaller. On the whole, it's different enough to be interesting.

Score: 3.5/5 - Actually different than other vegetable buns, with greens and textured protein.

Doll Dim Sum Mini Spring Roll

Another in the line of not so exciting but presentable spring rolls. Finely shredded cabbage and carrot filling, with a little bit of noodles that makes it a little pasty and less likely to all slough out. The roll is the standard wheat flour pastry roll. Slightly smaller than most of the little spring rolls, and a slightly high proportion of wrapper to filling, but that's alright. Bought at Kam Man frozen, toasted in the toaster oven.

Score: 3/5 - I ate them, I liked them enough. Nothing special but perfectly serviceable!

Little Chef Vegetable Spring Rolls

These spring rolls are another Kam Man frozen purchase. These are serious about the vegetable part. The filling is pretty much just shreds of cabbage and carrot and whole green peas! The only seasoning I can detect is pepper. The shells are standard pastry wrap, so no complaints there. The toaster oven prep we gave them yielded acceptable outside crispness. Overall, a totally decent spring roll, I just wish there was a little more flavor to them. I would rate them slightly higher than the K Fat Inc. rolls, and of course much much higher than the "grain" rolls. Looking back at that review, I am amazed I gave them a 2... I might have to revise that down. Having to finish the packages was like torture.

Score: 3.5/5 - Totally presentable spring rolls.

Chimei Cabbage Bun

Cabbage buns are one of the staple buns around out house. These frozen Chimei Cabbage Buns, from Kam Man, are pretty average buns. They have a little bit of textured vegetable protein in them. The filling is otherwise kinda slippery and not very textured. While I'd consider getting these again, I thought the Prime Foods ones were a little better. I have to hunt around more at the store for something with a little more pep. It was nice that these were a little on the smaller side, and the bread was plenty fluffy and soft.



Score: 3/5 - These were completely acceptable frozen cabbage buns, just a little bland.

Prime Food Vegetable Dumpling with Cabbage and Mushroom

These froze dumplings from Kam Man were really good. Though, what struck me about them first is how they do not match the picture on the bag... The ones on the bag look like gyoza type dumplings, long, with thin skins, like the Day-Lee ones. The actual dumplings have a thick, chewy skin and are squatter. After the initial doubt played out, I decided that these were pretty good. The way we made them, was to boil them first for five minutes or so, then to pan fry them. The original instructions just said to boil, but I like the extra texture afforded by pan frying. These guys are a little tougher than the gyoza style ones usually are, so they are able to take it. Even little rips don't necessitate a loss of filling. And on the topic of filling, I have to give these good marks. The little bit of mushroom in the dumplings is tastable, and the filling sticks together without being pasty.

Score: 4/5 - Chewy, satisfying skin, and simple, well-textured filling. These have hit the top of the list for veggie dumplings so far.