If you haven’t heard of the MìLà (formerly known as XCJ) soup dumplings that went viral on TikTok, then you have to look them up because you’re seriously missing out — not only on the soup dumplings themselves, but on the founders’ story, too. Let’s dig in.
Significant Others 😍 to Business Partners 💼
Jen Liao and Caleb Wong met on the ski slopes and connected over their love for winter sports, nerdy jokes, & food - especially sheng jian bao (pan-fried soup dumplings) which is Caleb's favorite childhood dish.
Unable to find their favorite dish in their home city of Seattle, they decided to take a risk and open their own restaurant... all while still dating.
They wanted to ensure that everyone was able to experience the food that brought them back to their roots, while immersing themselves with the rich depth and diversity of Chinese cuisine.
Turning a Dream Into Reality
As a first step, Jen and Caleb enlisted their friend-turned-chef Brian Yoon, who was looking to switch careers into the culinary arts, to head to China. There, he trained with master chefs to create prototypes with all different flavors, textures, and aromas to ensure the menu would be as authentic as possible. After perfecting the technique, Yoon brought the dream home to the States.
What began as a local side hustle of two has now expanded to cities like Chicago and New York with over 90 team members, complete with an eCommerce website that ships to all 50 states. They’ve even expanded their menu by adding noodles, ice cream, and other authentic favorites.
It’s safe to say that their side hustle is now a fan-favorite that has turned into a fully operating business with over $31 million in funding — which was raised during the peak of COVID.
The Soup Dumplings That Started It All...
Now for the part you’ve all been waiting for: their famous soup dumplings. Each package comes with 50 dumplings (good for about 6 meals) and you can choose from Classic Pork, Shrimp & Pork, or Savory Chicken.
No matter the flavor you choose, you’re going to get a savory dumpling that tastes like restaurant quality and only takes 11 minutes to steam... literal chef's kiss 💋
On top of that, you can also get specially crafted dipping sauces that come in Ginger & Scallion, Spicy Chili Crisp, or Classic Black Vinegar, along with Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles, Shanghai Scallion Oil Noodles, Beijing Zha Jiang Noodles, a 2-tiered steamer basket that fits up to 20 dumplings, and Asian-inspired ice cream in Milk Candy Peppermint Bark, Jasmine Green Tea, or Rose Lychee flavors.
Editor's Note: Full transparency, there's a $99 minimum for free shipping. So to experience all that MiLa soup dumplings have to offer, we recommend the Dumpling Discovery Kit. It comes with 100 soup dumplings and 3 Signature Craft sauces. It's $114.99 for the whole bundle, so you qualify for free 2-day shipping. It's the best way to try these dumplings out for yourself!
Should you try them? Absolutely.
We all know that things that go viral on TikTok don’t always live up to the hype. Not this time. I can personally say that these are my new go-to when I’m craving authentic soup dumplings that taste like they came right out of a chef's kitchen.
You can also start out with their MìLà's Soup Dumpling Experience, that includes 2 bags of 50 soup dumplings (classic pork & chicken), 3 jars of sauces, a bamboo steamer basket, and 2 dumpling dipping bowls, all for $139. PLUS you get free 2-day shipping. Talk about a deal! What better way to taste their menu than a variety box complete with their best sellers?
