Opening new restaurants is my favorite hobby.

All year long, there are headlines about stores, restaurants, and even major chains having to close because they weren’t making enough money. I feel like this year more than any other year (apart from 2020) I’ve seen various establishments close their doors. Being able to report on a restaurant opening makes me happy.

As I was scrolling through my feed yesterday, I saw the excitement about a unique restaurant opening in Connecticut. Marketplace in Hamden will soon be home to a restaurant that has never been seen in Connecticut before. The restaurant is called Ugly Dumpling and it already seems to be generating a lot of buzz.

According to their website, Ugly Dumpling’s goal is to “push beyond its boundaries and embark on a new gastronomic journey, blending the most authentic flavors of Chinese cuisine with contemporary creativity and a little more imagination.” Their slogan is “From the bustling streets of Shanghai to your table.”

Ugly Dumpling is unique in its own way, offering a wide variety of dishes and focusing on soup dumplings. The menu includes extensive appetizers, soup dumplings, wontons, rice, noodles, vegetables and more. They wanted to be unique with a different style of ramen and I think this is the perfect way to do it.

According to the Marketplace Hamden store directory, Ugly Dumpling will soon be available alongside Panera. It will reportedly replace the old TGI Fridays. There are currently two Ugly Dumpling locations in the United States, both in New Jersey.

I’m excited that they’ve decided to expand to Connecticut. The menu looks phenomenal and the food sounds amazing. I can’t wait to officially visit when it opens.