From “Prince” to “Princess”: Prince Dumpling Opens New Rowland Heights Sister Restaurant

Handmade soup dumplings, crab-filled xiaolongbao and a signature Wuxi-style soup dumpling headline the new restaurant

LAPost/Rowland Heights, CA — September 3, 2026
By Richard Ren/LAPost

Often described by Los Angeles diners as an affordable alternative to Din Tai Fung, Prince Dumpling has expanded its footprint with a new sister brand. On Sept. 3, Princess Dumplings in Rowland Heights celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring a lion dance, Shaolin martial arts performances and appearances by local elected officials and community leaders.

California Assemblymember Mike Fong (方树强) attended the ceremony and presented the restaurant with a certificate from the California State Assembly. A representative of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, along with mayors and city council members from several Southern California communities and local fire officials, also joined the celebration.

From Prince to Princess: A Brand Expands East

Prince Dumpling in Rosemead was the starting point for the brand. Built around the craft of xiaolongbao and soup dumplings, the restaurant has emphasized fresh, daily preparation since opening. Its menu includes handmade xiaolongbao, shengjian bao, potstickers, traditional Chinese dim sum and a variety of noodle dishes.

Helen Wu, one of the brand’s principals, said the team has remained committed to a straightforward philosophy: bringing fresh, handmade Chinese food to members of the local community.

“Opening a restaurant is actually very difficult and not easy,” Wu said. “But our team has continued to put in a lot of effort because we hope to provide our community with more choices and better food.”

With Princess Dumplings, the brand is carrying that emphasis on freshness, quality and handmade preparation into Rowland Heights, while introducing new elements in both its menu and restaurant design.

An Open Kitchen Puts the Craft on Display

One of Prince Dumpling’s defining features is its open kitchen.

Rather than keeping the preparation of dumplings and dim sum behind closed doors, the restaurant allows diners to watch chefs make the food by hand. The process—from shaping and filling dumplings to steaming them—is part of the experience.

Princess Dumplings continues that concept, allowing customers to watch the preparation of xiaolongbao and soup dumplings while they dine.

Here, “handmade” is more than a description on the menu. It is incorporated into the restaurant’s overall dining experience.

The interior combines elements of Jiangnan aesthetics with contemporary design, seeking to preserve the atmosphere of traditional Chinese cuisine while creating a more modern setting for diners in Rowland Heights.

From Xiaolongbao to a Giant Soup Dumpling

Xiaolongbao and soup dumplings remain at the center of the Princess Dumplings menu.

The restaurant serves classic Chinese specialties including xiaolongbao, crab-filled soup dumplings, shengjian bao, potstickers and spicy wontons with chili oil. The menu also extends beyond dim sum, offering beef noodle soup, dan dan noodles, fried rice, stir-fried udon and stir-fried rice cakes.

One of the restaurant’s more distinctive offerings is a Wuxi-style giant soup dumpling, priced at about $9.

Considerably larger than a traditional soup dumpling, it is filled with pork, crab and broth. Diners can insert a straw into the dumpling to sip the soup before eating the pork-and-crab filling, making for a particularly interactive and indulgent way to enjoy the dish.

Wu said the restaurant also hopes its selection of potstickers, shengjian bao and Shanghai-style dishes will give customers an opportunity to explore a broader range of Jiangnan and Shanghai culinary traditions.

Mike Fong Celebrates the Brand’s Growth

At the ribbon-cutting, Fong congratulated Helen Wu and the entire Princess Dumplings team.

Fong said he has visited Prince Dumpling in Rosemead and enjoyed its food. Seeing the brand expand into a second location and introduce the Princess Dumplings concept in Rowland Heights, he said, was a moment worth celebrating.

“I always enjoy going to Prince Dumpling and the delicious food there,” Fong said. “We’re seeing a lot of it being made here and now, and seeing the brand expand from its original location to Princess Dumpling here in the community.”

Fong also thanked Wu and her team for their service and leadership in the community.

He then presented the restaurant with a certificate recognizing the opening before joining other guests in celebrating the new location.

Bringing Traditional Craft to More Communities

For the Prince Dumpling brand, the opening of Princess Dumplings represents more than another restaurant location. It is an extension of a culinary philosophy centered on handmade preparation, freshness and food quality.

From the original Prince Dumpling in Rosemead to Princess Dumplings in Rowland Heights, the company is retaining its signature soup dumplings and traditional Chinese specialties while expanding the menu and incorporating contemporary design elements.

The new restaurant combines handmade xiaolongbao, soup dumplings, shengjian bao and potstickers with noodles, fried rice and other Chinese comfort foods. Its open kitchen also gives diners a direct view of a traditional culinary craft that is often hidden from customers.

The brand says it plans to continue focusing on handmade preparation and food quality while exploring more contemporary ways of presenting traditional Chinese cuisine. Its broader goal is to bring the concept to more communities and introduce more diners to both the flavors and craftsmanship behind handmade soup dumplings and traditional Chinese dim sum.

Princess Dumplings
18922 Gale Ave., Suite A
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
626-363-4036