I went there for the first time after the expansion and was disappointed by the experience. The most obvious change was the price, which I can understand as a lot of work went into the renovations. The ordering process is now computerized and you prepay before you get your food.\r
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This is where the process broke down. I ordered $1 of Chive dumplings and $1 of cabbage dumplings. The chives dumplings was ready, but the cabbage dumplings were not. I wound up waiting 40 MINUTES for the cabbage dumplings as other items were being cooked before the cabbage dumplings were back in rotation. Standing and waiting 40 minutes is silly for $2 worth of dumplings. I counted 11 people on staff, but only ONE person frying the dumplings and pancakes.\r
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Before the change in the ordering process, it's easy to just walk up and buy whatever is ready to go. If it's crowded, I'd come back another time. Because of the prepay, now you're stuck waiting instead of being able to make subsitution for what's available or just walking away.\r
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I think they should have stuck to their knitting and ran the business as it was: cheap, charming (in a hole-in-a-wall way), and efficient.
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