District Dumpling store manager Sinh Tran said he expects his three-week old restaurant to see more business once students return to the city for school.
One of the latest additions to Route 1, District Dumpling may face an uphill climb to distinguish itself from the restaurants flanking it.
But just like with dumplings, what counts is on the inside. Store manager Sinh Tran spent five years making his Japanese-style eatery a reality while honing his craft making noodles for local restaurants. Some students said they are weary of the storefront, originally slated to open in May and on a strip of Route 1 known for high rent and frequent turnover – but three weeks into business, Tran is confident the customers will come.
The 60-year-old restaurateur estimates about 80 patrons visited District Dumpling in the first two weeks after opening July 17.
“When school comes back, I’ll be busy,” he said.
For a price of $6 to $9, patrons can choose from six different kinds of “gyoza” potstickers: Japanese-style pork, chicken or shrimp; spinach chickpea; and Texas-style spicy dill pork, chicken or shrimp; spinach chickpea; and Texas-style spicy dill salmon or spicy beef.
“I made that flavor for American people,” Tran said.
He makes the dumplings every morning using his own recipes and pan sears them to order using a high-powered machine that’s ubiquitous in Japan. Tran also brought his expertise to his establishment, where sides include homemade durum wheat noodles with mixed vegetables and buckwheat noodles with spinach. Sweet and sour pickled vegetables are complimentary with meals.
“My food is very new,” he said.
However, several students said they were hesitant to stray from more familiar options, including two other Asian restaurants just feet away.
“I want to try it,” said Leah Rich, a junior kinesiology major who dined near District Dumpling recently. “But my friend went there and said it wasn’t very good.”
The eight-space Terrapin Station strip of Route 1 has been an especially challenging home for past tenants. District Dumpling’s space has stood empty since Quizno’s opened and closed briefly in 2010, and the space next door, now occupied by Vietnamese and Thai restaurant Pho Thom, saw two businesses shutter in about a year – Chicken Rico in February 2010 and Street Tacos last March.
College Park Economic Development Coordinator Michael Stiefvater said “it’s undeniable” that business slows in the summer, and Terrapin Station has proven to be a difficult location. However, he added, District Dumpling has a solid business plan and said Tran seems knowledgeable about his business.
With Tran’s addition, the stretch between Knox and Hartwick roads is slowly filling up. Five of the retail spaces are now occupied, and Stiefvater said a sixth business, College Park Barber, plans to open within two weeks.
“The diversity and selection is making this block much better,” said senior physics major Alex LeBlanc.
With students returning in two weeks, junior fire protection engineering major Maria Theodori said she expects the specialty offerings will help the dumpling shop carve out a niche in the city.
“There’s never enough Asian places,” she said.
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