Journey to the Dumpling opens hotly-anticipated Chinese restaurant in midtown Sacramento

Journey to the Dumpling’s odyssey into Sacramento is almost over.

The popular Chinese restaurant in Elk Grove confirmed on social media Sunday that its long-awaited midtown Sacramento location will open Monday at 1714 21st St.

Journey to the Dumpling is arguably Elk Grove’s most popular restaurant, a beacon for soup dumplings (known as xiaolongbao) as well as creative, contemporary spins on classic Chinese flavors that debuted in October 2016.

Customers regularly wait up to an hour for dinner at Journey to the Dumpling at its Elk Grove location in Laguna Crossroads shopping center, which was named one of The Sacramento Bee’s Top 50 Restaurants in 2022.

Chris and Yvonne Tan’s restaurant was initially supposed to debut on the ground floor of The Press at Midtown Quarter apartment building back in summer 2020. That opening date was pushed back time and again, but Journey to the Dumpling hosted local social media influencers over a weekend soft opening.

Initial offerings appear to mimic those at the Elk Grove location, including salt-and-pepper spare ribs, chili wontons, scallion pancakes and tidily-wrapped xiaolongbao.

This story was originally published November 13, 2023 at 10:22 AM.