A “coming soon” banner hangs in front of a forthcoming Ugly Dumpling in New Tampa on Friday. The Shanghai-inspired dumpling house plans to enter the Florida market with three locations. Gainesville and Kissimmee are also forthcoming. [\u00a0Photo by EVAN RODRIGUEZ\/Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
The Shanghai-inspired dumpling house is set to open three locations in Florida, Tampa being one.<\/p>\n
Ugly Dumpling, a Shanghai-inspired dim sum, soup dumplings (xiao long bao) and noodles restaurant, is taking over a shuttered TGI Fridays in New Tampa. The space is located in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve shopping center.<\/p>\n
Ugly Dumpling is under construction at a former TGI Fridays in New Tampa. [\u00a0Photo by EVAN RODRIGUEZ\/Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
This could mark the first Ugly Dumpling outpost in Florida. Ugly Dumpling\u2019s website lists both Gainesville and Kissimmee as forthcoming locations. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey are under construction,\u201d said Karalynn Holbrook, director of leasing at Acadia Realty Trust, who manages the Tampa Bay property Ugly Dumpling will occupy.<\/p>\n
Expect soup dumplings (six to an order) filled with pork and broth ($8.95); shrimp noodles ($13.95); and bubble tea ($5.95). <\/p>\n
\u201cTampa, Florida is getting an Ugly Dumpling! Our new location on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard will bring authentic Chinese soup dumplings to the Tampa Bay area,\u201d the restaurant\u2019s website said.<\/p>\n
On Friday afternoon, a large banner reading \u201ccoming soon\u201d hung across the front windows of the building facing a busy Bruce. B. Downs Boulevard. Inside, the slogan \u201cIn here, it\u2019s always Friday\u201d remained emblazoned across the back wall.<\/p>\n
Ugly Dumpling will occupy a former TGI Fridays in New Tampa. [\u00a0Photo by EVAN RODRIGUEZ\/Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
Chinese xiao long bao (soup dumplings) are having a moment in Tampa Bay as Shanghai Dumpling House opened<\/a> in January on East Fowler Avenue and Zen Dumplings debuted in Brandon <\/a>last fall.<\/p>\n Xiao long bao can be tricky to eat, but rewarding. <\/p>\n Grab a large plastic soup spoon, the kind that most Asian restaurants have in slotted napkin holders. Place the dumpling in the spoon and gingerly bite off its tip, allowing heat to escape and broth to ooze out. Add black vinegar, chili oil, soy sauce. Make sure the dumpling has cooled enough, then eat it whole. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a heavenly bite when executed well, and when cooked properly, the dumplings will inevitably burn, just a little.<\/p>\n Ugly Dumpling opened its first location in Edison, New Jersey, in 2023, as reported by hospitality industry news website Verdict Food Service<\/a>. The Chinese restaurant is primarily an East Coast concept with 12 open locations and eight forthcoming.<\/p>\n The restaurant is managed by Vertex Hospitality Group, based out of Flushing Queens, New York, and that also manages KPot, Hook & Reel and Kinya Ramen. While Ugly Dumpling\u2019s logo is on the masthead of Vertex\u2019s LinkedIn page, the restaurant is not listed in the company\u2019s overview.<\/p>\n Vertex Hospitality Group did not respond to a phone message seeking comment. Ugly Dumpling\u2019s flagship location declined to comment when reached by phone.<\/p>\n 19601 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. uglydumplingmenu.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n The Tampa Bay Times Food Hub launched in 2026, a four-person team covering Tampa Bay\u2019s dynamic and expanding food scene. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund by clicking here<\/a>. <\/p>\n Want food news weekly in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Top 50 Restaurants: Check out our food critic\u2019s list<\/a> of the area\u2019s best spots.<\/p>\n Follow our updates on the local restaurant landscape on Instagram at @tampabaytimesfood<\/a>.<\/p>\nA sun-bleached “Fridays” remains in the facade of the former restaurant at The Walk at Highwoods Preserve shopping center in New Tampa. Ugly Dumpling is set to occupy the space. [\u00a0Photo by EVAN RODRIGUEZ\/Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n