I'll admit it - I've always had a secret obsession with soup dumplings ever since I discovered them from Din Tai Fung.
But it's hard to recreate the quality of soup dumplings at home, so I started to go with the ones from Trader Joes out of convenience.
I mainly stuck with Trader Joe's dumplings for the convenience since there's a store right around the corner from me. But the taste was always just OK for me. I mean, they're microwaved and not properly steamed to perfection like I was used to.
So enter MìLà - truly authentic Xiao Long Bao that is restaurant quality.
Here's why MìLà has completely taken over my freezer instead of Trader Joe's, and why it should yours too:
1. Soooo plump & juicy - NO skimping here!
Let's be real, some of the best part about the soup dumplings is the soup. MìLà is not messing around - the dumplings are filled to the brim with soup.
I don't know about you, but the Trader Joes dumplings always leave me wishing I had more to slurp on... and that's operating on the assumption that one of them didn't break in the microwave, spilling its soup all over the container.
2. Complete meal that's ready in only ELEVEN minutes
Even as someone who loves to cook, there's nothing that makes being an adult more like a chore than having to cook dinner after a long, exhausting day at work. Knowing I have the MìLà dumplings as a fail-safe in my freezer keeps the dinnertime scaries at bay.
Better than that though, the dumplings come out presentable enough to serve to friends and family (sorry Trader Joes but your plastic microwavable dumpling holder just isn't making the cut on my dinner table). My husband loooves when I make these dumplings... little does he know how easy it is to make.
I will admit that Trader Joe's is a bit more convenient, but MìLà is absolutely worth the extra few minutes!
3. Restaurant quality without breaking the bank
I can't stress enough how gourmet these dumplings taste. The best part though is that the restaurant quality comes without the restaurant price. Interestingly enough, the 50 piece pack says they're good for 6 meals. For just $6.95 per meal, that's around 8 dumplings.
While that's a few bucks more expensive than the Trader Joes ones, I'd rather pay for the extra quality and better taste... not to mention that the serving size is 2 more dumplings than the TJ ones. I'm a gal with a hefty appetite, so the 6 Trader Joes dumplings alone usually doesn't cut it - especially since they're on the smaller side.
If you’re new to it, I recommend the bundle I got called MìLà's Soup Dumpling Experience. It includes two bags of 50 soup dumplings (pork & chicken), 3 jars of sauces, a 2 tier bamboo steamer basket, and 2 dumpling dipping bowls.
4. Different flavor options to accommodate your preference
Whether you like pork, shrimp, or chicken, MìLà's got you covered. I don't know about you, but my local Trader Joes was always out of stock with at least one flavor... and most times, both.
Not to mention they didn't have a shrimp option. 🥟 After trying all of MìLà's flavors, I can confidently say I like all of them, but the classic pork was my fave.
5. Melt-free guarantee & free shipping on orders over $99
I think it’s safe to say that most of us have tried one or two ship-to-home meal boxes that are spoiled and melted by the time they arrive. Not this time! My dumplings were packaged in temperature-controlled dry ice and wrapped in an insulated liner that kept them cold and fresh until I put them in my freezer.
Not to mention how easy ordering online was... and they were delivered right to my door!
6. Restaurant quality soup dumplings at home!
Did you know that Trader Joe's dumplings are actually just cooked and then frozen? I didn't either...
MìLà on the other hand is raw, flash frozen and then cooked at home via steaming instead of the microwave. Clearly, this results in a HUGE difference in taste, quality and enjoyment.
They're restaurant quality dumpings, but in the comfort of your own home and kitchen!
7. Fits perfectly in your freezer
These dumpling bags are 9x12x4, which means that an average freezer can fit around eight bags. Safe to say I have plenty of room still left over for ice cream in my freezer.
It's official: the hype over these soup dumplings is real
Overall, my MìLà soup dumplings experience could not have gone any better. They’re delicious, convenient, and affordable - safe to say my Trader Joes soup dumpling era has passed, and I'm on to brighter horizons!
