China Bistro
Dumplings folded to order in a Rockville strip mall. Service optional; the spicy-tasty fish is not.
My Take
A strip mall off a busy highway, a cramped room, and service that runs from efficient to slightly dismissive — and I've been back eight or nine times. The dumplings are folded to order by a big crew in the kitchen, so they're never quite the same twice and always delicious; mama's dumplings (pork, shrimp, chive and napa cabbage) are the ones I order first. Don't miss the spicy-tasty fish: crisp-shelled cubes of flaky white fish tossed with wilted greens, dried chilies and peanuts. The food arrives in waves, whenever it's ready. Know your order before you sit down — they'll glare if you don't.
Public Knowledge
Known locally as Mama's Dumplings, this Rockville strip-mall spot built its reputation on fresh, hand-rolled dumplings with more than a dozen fillings, served a dozen to an order (Washingtonian). Economist and food writer Tyler Cowen called them "the best dumplings around, by an order of magnitude," while rating the rest of the menu ordinary (Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide). Washingtonian's Cheap Eats pick also points to garlicky cucumbers and cold sesame noodles as the best partners for the dumplings (Washingtonian).
Ratings — Google 4.0 (566 reviews) · Tripadvisor 3.9 (87 reviews) · as of October 29, 2026. Sources: Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Yelp
Details
Price: $$
China Bistro · 755 Hungerford Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 · (301) 294-0808 · chinabistrorockville.com