Dumpling Happiness

I went to Dumpling Happiness for a late night snack and didn’t realize until I got there that you actually have to go into a bar in order to get to the truck. The bar does seem nice, but I did feel a little out of place in jeans and a tee shirt with flip flops.
I ordered the pork dumplings, which had a bit too much ginger for my taste, and the edamame beans, which were tasty but I don’t think I would make a specific trip back to the food truck for them.
It wasn’t bad, if I was at the bar I wouldn’t mind ordering from them again, but I’m not going out of my way for any visits soon.

A dumpling food trailer at a bar is a brilliant idea! I ordered the happiness flight to get a taste of everything. The dumplings were ok. I also ordered the glass gyoza which is fried chicken skin stuffed with pork on a stick … this was the best thing I ordered! Delicious! I also ordered the chocolate ginger wonton and they were ok too. Dumpling happiness might make you happy, but if you are an experienced dumpling eater you may be left wanting more from them. Overall it was ok and I am willing to go back and try it again.

Sigh, more fusion-​y junk for people who haven’t had real, authentic northern Chinese dumplings. The least you could do is make your own dumpling wrapper instead of buying the frozen wraps, right?

Kind of pricey! But its spinach dumpling :) i didnt like the sauce (dipping) but dumplin was okay! And it was unique!

Dumpling Happiness IS
* A hipster hangout
* Delicate steamed or fried gifts for your mouth
* Service with a smile
* Outdoor seating
Dumpling Happiness IS NOT
* A trailer with an expansive menu
* Super quick
* The best Chinese food in Austin. (sorry!)
TLDR: Dumpling Happiness brings small plate pricing to trailer-​food dumplings. It’s good but not great food and a tad expensive — only not if you’re paying $ 4 for a PBR and wearing raw denim.
—-
So while you’re cracking a PBR and low-​fiving (crotch-​pats) your braw-​dawgs on East 6^th, you might at some point get that feeling in your stomach that where you’re confused whether or not it’s time to roll another American Spirit or grab some munchies to refuel for further high-​fiving.
JUST KIDDING.
Dumpling Happiness is at The Whistler. It’s actually one of the better, less pretentious hipster hangouts around town. Cocktails are good and the beer is reasonable as well. The whole place is pretty much outdoors and has a chill relaxed vibe.
The food at dumpling happiness was good but not great. When you compare the flavors to something like Chen’s Noodle House, you might get a little sad… and at twice the price. *womp womp*. The highlights were the pork dumplings and the rotating vegetarian dumplings.
The food there is tasty but not amazing. Nothing was significantly stand out.
We ended up going because I searched Unilocal for «Chinese» in Austin, sorted by stars thinking, «OH HEY — I’ll get the best Chinese in Austin!» Well, it turns out that I was wrong.
It seems that either Unilocal or Unilocalers have confused the system and plenty of non Chinese places have not only made their way to the top, but dominate. (Ramen, Sushi, Korean — turns out all of these places are not actually Chinese!) I digress.
The outdoor seating is nice and it’s part of the Whistler bar so you can grab a drink. 2 orders of dumplings will make for a meal. 1 order will placate you needing to find food RIGHT NOW.
I tried pretty much the entire menu and it’s all fairly good. If you’re not willing to make the trip to Chen’s or it’s late or you’re on the East side drinking; head over to Dumpling Happiness. While they won’t excite, they also won’t disappoint.

Pretty tasty! The wait was a wee bit long for the orders, but luckily I am a patient guy.
Nice alternative to the other food trucks I run into.

The food truck is very welcoming, dressed with Chinese décor and smelling of delicious dumplings. The person behind the counter is friendly and very warming.
However, the dumplings are quite lacking. Reading other reviews, my friends and I were quite excited for the dumplings.
— Chicken dumplings were lacking in flavor.
— Pork dumplings was a bit heavy on the ginger.
— Scallion pancakes were flavorless
I understand its tough for only one worker and limited space, but the wait time is a bit too long. Took about 30 minutes for our dumplings.
Get a few drinks in from the bar two steps away and you may like the food more. Saw a women stumble her way to the food truck demanding her food to be delivered.

This food truck is parked outside Whisler’s and has a lot going for it, but could use some improvement. It was hard not to feel like the guy running it was a little overwhelmed and this showed in the fact that he accidentally gave away one of my companions’ orders to someone else Not that he did this on purpose, but it also seems like he could use a little help at times (maybe he has it on other nights?).
The dumplings were reasonably priced and decently tasty. Don’t expect a lot of food (it’s dumplings after all!), but it’s a perfect compliment to Whisler’s drink choices. There are a few options outside of the dumplings, but I wasn’t craving them. It was late and I was drinking, so I can’t honestly recall what those options were. It’s easily accessible from inside the patio area at the bar, so it’s a perfect option for those looking for a late night snack.

This trailer complements Whisler’s well. Small, flavorful bites to go with your fancy drinks! We shared the pork and ginger dumplings and the scallion pancakes. My friend from Toronto declared them the best dumplings he’s ever had, which is no small feat, given all the amazing Asian food to be had in Toronto. The scallion pancakes were perfect — light and not at all greasy. The perfect vehicle for the chili paste available amongst the free condiments by the window. This is the kind of place I really wish would deliver to my apartment. While I like some entrees at Chinese places, I could happily make a meal of dumplings or appetizers alone.
The great thing about this place is that you can go big and get a bunch of things to create a meal, or just share an order or two of dumplings as an appetizer or a quick snack.
They have a few vegetarian options, including a veggie dumpling in wheat wrapper. You place your order at the truck and then they’ll take your number and text you when your dumplings are ready. Easy peasy! Definitely worth a visit, whether or not you’re drinking at Whisler’s.

I think it will be wrong of me to expect authentic dumplings here in Austin TX. Spoilt by what I can find in LA and my numerous trips to Asia. I will be gentle with this review.
We ordered an assorted plate (2 of each kind of dumplings, 6 in all) and a scallion pancake with an egg.
Chris who ran the truck is all by himself. I get it. It’s tough being the only one taking orders, cooking and calling out names (or he sms-​ed for notification in this case).
We waited for 30mins. Nothing.
When I approached the window, he realized he totally forgot about our order and had to start from scratch. The order took another 10 to 15mis. He meant well and gave us a free plate of wontons filled with chocholate. But guess what? The assorted dumpling plate was missing 2 dumplings (should be 6 but came with 4).
At that pt, I just lost all interest in the food. Ate a bit and left. And the food weren’t that grade. Very dull and stale.
24 hrs later. I am now in Taipei. Went to the night market for a plate of hand-​made dumplings. This street stall is run by a couple. And they make the dumplings fresh on the spot for US$ 0.30 a piece. I get it. Different country, different living stds.
But fact is, this owner apologized because he was busy making our dumplings and our order was delayed by 5mins. We waited 7 mins in all.
Two different countries. Same business.
Go figure.

We ordered two Happy Flights, which sampled two each of the three dumplings (chicken, pork, artichoke). Soooo good. Could have eaten four full flights myself. Great flavor, great presentation, perfectly seared, and service with a smile! A must go to for the dumpling lover.

I’ve had a ton of dumplings from homemade to ones at Michelin star restaurants like Din Tai Fung, Being Chinese, I love my dumplings and scallion pancakes. I guess my rating (which would be closer to a 3.5) isn’t exactly fair if I’m comparing a food truck to a Michelin star restaurant, but I had expectations built up from the reviews I was reading.
I read all the reviews and thought I’d try the popular items that I saw. Ordered a sampler that had 2 of each dumpling, the scallion panquesadilla, glass gyoza, and wontons of chocolate.
The pork and ginger was probably my favorite out of the 3 kinds. The other two were good but didn’t wow me. The scallion panquesadilla didn’t really work for me. The pancake wasn’t flaky but was kind of soft and the «pork sung» inside was pretty normal (but I can see how it can be different for people that haven’t had it before). The wonton of chocolate filling was great but I’m not sure if I’m a fan yet.
Now enough negativity cause there were some great things here. The 2 ladies in the truck were super nice. The glass gyoza was also very delicious when dipped with the lime/​pepper/​salt that it comes with. The outside was crispy and the inside was juicy. It was probably my favorite item here and you should definitely try it out.
All in all, I will most likely come back but will only order certain items the next time. As for authentic dumplings, I’ll continue to be making my own.
Oh yeah, in case you have trouble finding it, it’s a silver truck on the NW corner of 6^th and Chicon. It’s right next to the bar there and the seating area is shared with a bar so be prepared to be ID’d.

This place is absolutely amazing! My husband and I have always been fond of dumplings but it’s so hard to find good Asian food in Austin, so we nearly gave up until I read about this place on Unilocal.
First, we started off with the scallion quesadilla which was out of this world! It was cooked to perfection, crispy and most importantly delicious! We then tried the pork and ginger, artichoke and potato, and chicken and shiitake dumplings. We loved all of them but our favorite was the pork and ginger because it tasted the most authentic. Since we came early, we got a chance to talk to one of the owners and learned that they are planning on selling soup dumplings (xiao long bao) in the future. I cannot wait!!!

Best dumplings. (period)
Probably the best scallion pancake ever also.
Homemade, cooked to perfection (pan fried crisp on one side), with wraps of a perfect thickness, and not too greasy.
I’ve had my share of dumplings in my life — Prosperity, Rickshaw, and Joe’s Shanghai in NYC probably the most memorable… but none of these ever really wowing me, along with some non memorable experiences in the Bay Area.
They are taking the perfect dumpling and fusing them with modern, healthy, «American» ingredients like a sweet potato and kale, or artichoke and potato. Someone also mentioned chicken skin — bummed to not have the opportunity to try that. Really, skies the limit since they’ve truly seemed to have mastered the art of dumpling making, and i can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

Definitely lives up to it’s name!
I have never had edamame that way and it was incredible! I’m ruined to have it any other way… also the scallion pancake was a perfect compliment to them. Make sure to get the flight for your first time and dip it in Yimay’s «happiness sauce» and then finish it off with the chocolate dumplings.
My husband and I had a 3 course meal for two for under $ 30 and it was DELICIOUS! We most certainly will be returning for Dumpling Happiness!

Wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’d eat here again. The dumplings are crisp and juicy, though a bit on the tiny side. Six for $ 7.50 is a little out of my normal food-​per-​value ratio though – especially since I know some of NYC’s best dumpings sell for close to 20 – 25 cents a pop. (Or they used to anyway…)
The dumplings themselves are tasty though. I didn’t think much of the vegetarian one, but I’ll give them a pass (yam and kale – healthy! but not flavor-​poppingly so). The chicken and shiitake were excellent, and the pork and ginger were so as well. (That tasted like fresh ginger: a mousetrap to my taste buds).
I’d be back a lot more often if the food-​per-​value ratio was better. It’s hard to say that I’ll try to be back more often as is though due to the density of great food trailers in the downtown area. Gotta share the love.

This place should be called Edamame Happiness.
Don’t get me wrong… the dumplings were awesome. But I’ve had good dumplings. I’ve never had edamame that tasted like that! I’m ruined now. I’ll probably never order it again if not from DH. The uniqueness of the presentation of that otherwise simple starter says a lot about the care and thought put into this food.
I look forward to tasting many, many more things from the menu, but I was alone for lunch when I went so I didn’t get a ton of stuff. But what I did have I enjoyed to the point that the worry of where my dirty fingers had been before lunch did not stop me from licking them all clean. This would be a great place to bring a bunch of friends and grab one of every single thing on the menu [2 or 3 edamame orders] and share.
The scallion pancake was really something special too. When you hear the terms dumpling and pancake, etc. — don’t get weird. It’s not complicated or fancy. It’s actually very simple: Yum.

The dumplings are amazing! I couldn’t decide on which ones to order so I got the «Happy Flight» special which gives you two of each of their 3 dumpling choices. Seriously spectacular. Even the little slaw on the bottom was delicious.
Oh and buy one of the plastic pork dumpling toys. You never know which one you’re gunna get – they’re super cute – it’s the best surprise!

You’ve done it again Austin Food Truck scene; you seamlessly combine fusion, tradition, and food trucks into a single package. Dumpling Happiness rolls traditional Asian small bites out with some jazzed up flavors and combinations, bookending the menu with a good variety and fair pricing.
The pork and ginger, the most normal dumpling, boasts real Asian flavor, and the Happiness sauce tastes most akin to the typical soy sauce and ginger pairing. Going further from the status quo, the chicken shiitake tasted a smidgen bland, what with the ground chicken flavor not providing much fat. Surprisingly, the yam and kale gave way to creamy and sweet nuances.
For naan lovers, DH provides scallion pancakes – a flat, crisped bread with green onions mixed in. Simple, starchy, and humble.
This sleek silver new kid on the block brings yet another fun joint to eat in a new mobile eatery development, and I welcome them with open arms and empty stomach. At $ 7.5 an order, you find it pricey to get full off a bit more than the 6 units provided, but at least you know these things are handmade. Specifically, I am thinking about the frozen dumplings from the Asian market that run 32 for $ 4.

Delicious dumplings that are cooked when you order them.
When I went they had pork, chicken&mushroom, and a yam&kale vegetarian dumpling. You could get a combo of all of them or order sets of each individual dumpling. Each set comes with a sauce of your choice for dipping… sort of like fancy McNuggets.
I got the combo to try all of them, and my favorite dumpling turned out to be the Yam dumpling much to my surprise since I would usually go for ones with meat.
The most amazing thing I ate here was the scallion pancake taco. They make a scallion pancake and turn it into a taco by adding meat. Plus, you can add an egg to it which definitely made it taste better since a fried egg makes everything taste better.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try the dessert dumplings which had Miles of Chocolate wrapped inside of a fried wonton, but they looked fantastic.
This truck seems to have sporadic hours, so check before making a trip there.