I’ve always been a big fan of dim sum. Maybe it’s because eating lots of little somethings makes my heart happy. Maybe it’s because bite-size really does just taste better. Or maybe it’s just because I love the variety it offers. But regardless, when someone says dim sum, I’m there. So needless to say, I’m pretty ecstatic every time I receive an offer to visit Xi Home Dumplings Bay, a popular London restaurant chain specialising in authentic, handcrafted Northeastern Chinese dumplings.
I’ve been to Xi Home a few times, once to participate in one of their specials events (side note – in addition to being a restaurant, Xi Home offers dumpling-making and other interactive masterclasses that are heaps of fun), once to enjoy a sit-down meal at their flagship Spitalfields location on Blossom Street, and, most recently, to try the newest menu at Xi Home Covent Garden.
The Xi Home Dumplings Bay Story
Xi Home was founded by restaurateur Wenjun Xiang, born and raised in the northern Chinese port city of Dalian, with the aim of bringing authentic Northeastern Chinese cuisine – and particularly handmade dumplings – to London’s dining scene.
The restaurant first gained attention at Bang Bang Oriental Foodhall, before expanding into two additional standalone locations, one in Covent Garden and one near Liverpool Street, with the latter designed as the group’s flagship restaurant.
The two restaurants couldn’t be more different.
The Blossom Street branch is large and spacious, with glass walls allowing plenty of light to enter the vibrantly decorated space, an open-plan kitchen where you can see chefs hand-fold dumplings, and a selection of smaller and larger tables that were all packed when we visited.
The Covent Garden branch has that typical Central London feel, slightly crammed and spanning across multiple floors with additional basement-level seating. The mezzanine upper level, where we sat, is tight but still light and airy, and, like the Liverpool Street branch, it was packed when we visited.
A rare moment of capturing the restaurant between guests …
Xi Home is definitely popular, and for good reason. The menu is extensive, the service is quick, prices are affordable, and the food is delish.
What’s not to love?
The Xi Home Menu
I’ve seen restaurant menus in all shapes and sizes. I’ve seen extensive menus. I’ve seen curated tasting menus. Once or twice I’ve even been to restaurants that printed edible menus, which was quite an experience.
But Xi Home’s menu, now, this was something else.
It’s not just a menu; it’s a whole illustrated storybook, packed with colourful photography, stylised artwork, and detailed descriptions that introduce diners to the dishes and regional influences behind them. It’s beautiful, and my only complaint would be that I need more time to actually read the whole thing.
They have everything you could dream of, from a world of dumplings to hot and cold starters, noodle dishes, regular mains, and even fantastic dessert options, including deep-fried pumpkin cake and steamed sticky pumpkin cake with red beans. Many dishes also reflect Dalian’s coastal identity, with some speciality seafood dumplings featuring lobster, scallop, abalone, and cuttlefish.
From cocktails to dim sum, Xi Home has it all.
Now, it’s worth noting that, unlike the Cantonese dim sum or Sichuan cuisine more commonly associated with Chinese restaurants in the UK, Xi Home focuses on the hearty, dough-based cooking traditions of Northern China.
The menu also specifically focuses on shuijiao, boiled dumplings with slightly thicker skins and juicier insides.
These are hearty and filling, delicious but different to the slightly finer-skinned, steamed dumplings you may be used to. They’re also served in portions of 10, so a plate or two is generally enough to fill you up.
Price-wise, you’re looking at approximately £15 a dish (excluding the speciality seafood dishes), which is great considering the size of the portions … and the fact that you’re still eating out in the heart of London.
Xi Home Review
The I Love Foodies Experience
In true I Love Foodies fashion (and considering we’ve been more than once), I’ve had the chance to (almost) try a little bit of everything.
Some of the Xi Home dishes we’ve tried:
- Cuttlefish dumplings (£23.50)
- Handmade jade lobster dumplings (£23.80)
- Pork with chives and prawn dumplings (£14.80)
- Homemade vegan dumplings (£12.70)
- Chives, egg and prawn dumplings (£14.80)
- Mushroom dumplings (£12.70)
- Beef with spring onion dumplings (£12.70)
- Pork, prawn, and water chestnut dumplings (£9.50)
- Pork soup bun (£7.00)
- Pan-fried buns (£10.80)
- Vegetable thin-skin buns (£9.50)
- Spring onion pancakes (£7.00)
- Smashed cucumber salad (£9.10)
- Seaweed salad (£9.10)
- Spinach sald (£9.10)
- Chilled celtuce with shrimp (£16.80)
- Assorted chilled seafood in house dressing (£22.80)
- Prawn shredded rolls (£10.20)
- Stir-fried chicken (£18.10)
- Steamed sticky pumpkin cake with red beans (£9.10)
Everything we had was great, though it is worth remembering that these Northern Chinese dumplings are meant to be larger, thicker, heartier, and slightly chewier. If you’re expecting trays of delicate dumplings in bamboo steamers, you’re at the wrong place.
Left: The Xi Home dumplings are boiled and slightly thicker-skinned than what you may be used to. Right: The prawn & celtuce dish is a new summer addition.
Left: The spring onion pancakes were super moreish. Right: The prawn shredded rolls were tasty but a little messy.
The handmade jade lobster dumplings are spectacular!
There were a couple of stand-out dishes for me, most notably the lobster dumplings. These were spectacular! I’ve always been a fan of lobster and I’m quite aware of what lobster usually costs – these dumplings are worth every penny. They’re absolutely filled with lobster meat and they’re truly, truly delicious.
Next time that lobster craving hits you, skip all the overpriced lobster rolls around town and come to Xi Home for the lobster dumplings instead.
Other stand-outs were the cuttlefish dumplings, which I only ordered because they came so highly recommended, and the mushroom dumplings, not something I’d usually go for but these sounded delicious, and both options did not disappoint.
The pork, prawn, and chives dumplings as well as the pork, prawn, and water chestnut dumplings were both really good as well. The stir-fried chicken leaned towards the spicy side but this was fantastic – crunchy and full of flavour. The smashed cucumber and seaweed salads were also excellent, and the pork soup bun, a giant steamed dumpling that you pierce with a straw to enjoy the soup before biting in to enjoy the fillings, was also a really lovely find. The pan-fried bao are also a personal favourite, so these will always be on my top list.
I’d definitely have every one of these dishes again.
The pork soup bun is tasty and fun – stick a straw into the top of the bun, slurp the soup, and then eat the whole thing.
Pan-fried baos are always one of my favourites, and the ones at Xi Home are fluffy, juicy, and delicious.
But, of course, there are some dishes I probably wouldn’t order again, not because they weren’t delicious, but:
- The spring onion pancakes had a wonderful flavour and I really enjoyed them, but they were just a tad too oily for my liking.
- The prawn shredded rolls were really delicious and fun to eat, but I ended up making an absolute mess of the little dough pieces going everywhere. Tasty, but not “try not to look like a fool” safe.
- The spinach salad was good but it was insanely garlicky – and even though I love garlic, this was just a touch too much for me.
- The chilled seafood platter had the most delicious dressing and I enjoyed the prawn, conch, and wood ear, but the squid (usually a fave) did not do it for me.
These are definitely personal preferences, though, and you may absolutely adore these dishes.
In addition to their regular menu, Xi Home offers seasonal specials, like these thin-skin veggie buns and the chilled seafood platter.
On the dessert side, I only tried the steamed sticky pumpkin cake with red beans and they definitely did not lie when they called them sticky. These are literally gluey – I loved it. They’re shaped like little pumpkins, super chewy, and not too sweet. They probably won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me, top-notch.
Overall, Xi Home Dumplings Bay was fab.
The food was well-prepared, fresh and delicious, the service was excellent, and the ambience really lovely. Even with the spot being absolutely packed, the team was on fire and everything arrived at the table hot, steamy, and super quickly.
Visit Xi Home Dumplings Bay
If you want to taste something familiar that’s still a little different, try your hand at making dumplings, or just enjoy great food in a friendly setting, Xi Home is for you.
Considering its popularity, booking is definitely a must.
You’ll find all the details below.
Xi Home Dumplings Bay Contact Details
(Spitalfields Branch)
Address: 10 Blossom Street, E1 6PL, London
Opening Times: Monday – Sunday (12:00 – 15:30 & 16:30 – 22:30)
Call: +44 2038939655
(Covent Garden Branch)
Address: 43 Chandos Place, Convent Garden, WC2N 4HS
Opening Times: Monday – Friday (12:00 – 15.30 & 16:30 – 22:30), Saturday (12:00 – 22:30), Sunday (12:00 – 21:30)
Call: +44 2073796523
Website: www.wjxfoodculture.co.uk
Email: admin@wjxfoodculture.co.uk
Written by Benike Palfi
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Article Date: July 2026
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