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There’s a dumpling shop in Philadelphia that offers delectable food, fast service, and a modern take on a historic and unique dining experience – and it could be coming soon to your Pennsylvania neighborhood!
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop blends its “futuristic service model” that was first popularized by Horn & Hardart in the early 20th century with an updated format that allows customers to order through the store’s app, website or in-store kiosk. Its “Automat” model stores food in either heated or cooled (depending on the type of order a customer places) locker boxes. When the order is ready, customers scan a barcode to access their assigned locker.
Customers avoid the hassle of waiting in line to place an order or risk picking up the wrong order. And, it’s fast; everything is made to order within 10 minutes or less – creating a perfect dining option for customers on the go!
“In the event that it is your first time at one of our restaurants, if the process seems intimidating, or if you just prefer to order your meal with a side of human interaction, an ambassador is on the floor to make sure your process is seamless and can help you complete and receive your order,” said Alex Flack, partner with the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop. “We pride ourselves on our customer service and our customer experience! Also, our units are operated by two to five team members per shift, allowing us to compensate our team members better, and keep prices as low as possible.”
The seamless, quick, to-go Automat is only part of the unique Brooklyn Dumpling Shop experience. Each shop is designed to reflect the neighborhoods they call home, assimilating to the area’s culture and customer base with the hope that they will become regular visitors. The owners work with local artists to create a customized atmosphere, so each shop can fully celebrate the communities in which their employees live and work.
“Our menu is also a major differentiator,” said Flack. “We like to say, ‘Everything is better in a dumpling,’ so we have some really interesting dumplings you will most likely not see anywhere else. However, what people commonly do not know about Brooklyn Dumpling Shop until they experience it is just how expansive our menu is. We have traditional potstickers, dessert dumplings, our take on protein bowls, chicken bites, our famous peanut noodles, and one of the best smash burgers you will find with some very cool flavor combinations that are unique to us.”
From Reuben dumplings to Kung Pao burgers, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has a flair of flavor from many different cultures. They are inspired to continue promoting popular flavors while staying creative in the kitchen, gaining artisanal inspiration from their communities, just as they do for the décor of their stores.
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop operates in four states and Canada. The company’s Pennsylvania partners – all of whom are natives to the Keystone State – have two Philadelphia area stores and will open their third location in June. They originally planned to keep the shops exclusive to food-savvy Philadelphia, but decided later to expand the brand across the Commonwealth.
“The more we leaned into the brand, the more we saw this was an opportunity for all of Pennsylvania’s diverse communities and acquired the master franchise for the entire state,” said Flack. “This will allow us to partner with sub-franchisees to bring this exciting concept to as many people as quickly as possible, and share in the dumpling goodness far and wide across the Keystone State!”
With a modern take on its menu and its future-focused use of the historic Automat, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop’s future is bright. Its plans to diversify, create, and grow will solidify its status as a food staple in Pennsylvania and beyond for years to come.
