The food
Ugly Dumpling takes the dumpling well beyond the traditional. The classics are on the menu, with pork belly, aromatic duck, satay chicken, but the kitchen is better known for its fusion fillings: mushroom and truffle, lamb with harissa and yoghurt, courgette and halloumi, and a cheeseburger dumpling that has become the signature. Gluten-free options are available and the kitchen handles dietary requirements well.
The setting
The restaurant sits on the corner of Newburgh and Ganton streets, a minute off Carnaby Street on the former Pitt Cue site. It's a small room spread over two floors with a full bar and a relaxed, informal feel. Service is quick, which makes it a good stop mid-shopping. There's a second branch in Fitzrovia, a short walk north.
