Angel is hardly short of good places to eat, but every so often a new restaurant opens that seems to flood Instagram overnight. Enter Summer Dumpling, a tiny dumpling bar that opened just before Christmas and is already building quite the following.
Inside, the space feels more like a stylish living room than your typical dumpling spot. Crisp white tiled tables are dotted with red mushroom-style lamps casting a warm glow across the room, while quirky artwork lines the walls. It’s small, cosy and blissfully independent.
The bar sits neatly in the corner, where drinks are mixed and poured into playful coloured glassware that looks like it could have come straight from the eighties. My Paloma arrived in a soft pink glass and was sharp, sweet and refreshing.
The menu caters to both seasoned dumpling fans and those simply curious to try something new. It runs through everything from steamed and pan-fried dumplings to wontons and potstickers, with flavours inspired by different regions across China. Dishes arrive as they’re ready rather than all at once, which keeps everything feeling informal and laid-back.
The staff encouraged us to try one of the house specials, served in sets of three and featuring some more unexpected combinations. The prawn and squid dumpling topped with Pringles and caviar was an easy highlight: bizarre yet delicious all the same, and visually stunning in its rose-pink wrapper. This is the dish you may have seen doing the rounds online, and for good reason.
We also ordered a mix across the rest of the menu, including steamed chicken and corn dumplings alongside pan-fried prawn dumplings with a beautifully crisp base. Each one was generously filled and paired with its own sauce, from classic soy to a creamy chilli mayo.
There are also a few dishes designed to break things up between rounds. One of the standouts for us was the smashed cucumber, lightly pickled and incredibly refreshing. We also ordered a spinach dish layered with tahini and soy, which added a rich savoury contrast to the dumplings.
We couldn’t resist sharing a bowl of beef noodles in a deep, spicy broth too. The beef was meltingly tender and had clearly been stewing away for hours. My friend found the heat level a little punchy, but I loved the depth of flavour.
Summer Dumpling is the perfect spot for an evening meal out. Camden Passage sits just around the corner, with its vintage stalls, small jewellery shops and independent cafés, making it a lovely area to wander before dinner.
Just one piece of advice, plan ahead 
and get to Summer Dumpling early. With only a handful of tables inside, the queue builds quickly. When we arrived just after 6pm, there was already one forming outside. Judging by the steady stream of people waiting as we left, though, it seems most diners are more than happy to wait.
Check out the menu HERE.