Sammi and Soupe Dumpling – Authentic Soup Dumplings in the ByWard Market – Average EV Score: 5.7/10
Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa
Each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing.
Table of Contents
Sammi and Soupe Dumpling Restaurant Overview
41 York St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5S7
Sammi and Soupe Dumpling is located in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, a busy area with plenty of dining options but very limited parking. On a weekend evening, it can be a challenge to find a spot close by. When we visited, we ended up parking several blocks over and walking to the restaurant. By the time we arrived, it was already quite busy inside, and it stayed that way throughout our meal.
The restaurant has lots of seating, though the tables are placed fairly close together. It’s easy to overhear other people’s conversations, and the same goes for them hearing yours. If you’re looking for a more private dining experience, this setup might not be ideal. Still, the bustle adds to the energy of the place, and it fits the lively feel of the ByWard Market.
One thing to note is that they don’t take reservations, so if you’re going during peak hours, expect to wait or arrive early. Food does come out pretty quickly once you’re seated, which helps keep things moving despite the crowd. While we were dining, we noticed a steady stream of UberEats orders being packed up at the counter, which shows just how popular this spot is for both dine-in and takeout.
Sammi and Soupe Dumpling has multiple locations, with most of them based in Montreal. That’s actually where I first tried them a few years back, so I was glad to see they opened a location in Ottawa. To my knowledge, this might be the only restaurant in the city making authentic soup dumplings in-house. If you know of another, I’d love to hear about it, but for now, Sammi and Soupe Dumpling feels like the go-to spot for this particular specialty.
Would return?: Yes, but only for certain dumplings.
Peanut Butter Wonton
😋 Enjoyment: 7/10
💰 Price Paid: $8
🎯 Benchmark Price: $8
📊 EV Score: 7/10
🔁 Order Again?: Yes.
A fun way to start the meal. The creamy peanut butter on top of the wonton created a great flavour combination with the tender pork inside. The meat was juicy and well-seasoned, though the wrapper itself did fall apart a little. Despite that, it was an enjoyable appetizer and something I’d recommend trying at least once.
Soup Dumpling – Juicy Pork & Chive
😋 Enjoyment: 7.5/10
💰 Price Paid: $16
🎯 Benchmark Price: $16
📊 EV Score: 7.5/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
This was the standout of the night and easily my favourite dumpling. The pork was moist and tender, and the chives added both flavour and texture to the filling. The combination worked perfectly, making each bite satisfying. The only letdown was that I expected a bit more broth inside the dumpling, but even with that, this is the one I’d definitely order again.
Soup Dumpling – Juicy Pork & Chive
😋 Enjoyment: 7.5/10
💰 Price Paid: $16
🎯 Benchmark Price: $16
📊 EV Score: 7.5/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
This was the standout of the night and easily my favourite dumpling. The pork was moist and tender, and the chives added both flavour and texture to the filling. The combination worked perfectly, making each bite satisfying. The only letdown was that I expected a bit more broth inside the dumpling, but even with that, this is the one I’d definitely order again.
Soup Dumpling – Shrimp & Coriander
😋 Enjoyment: 7/10
💰 Price Paid: $19
🎯 Benchmark Price: $19
📊 EV Score: 7/10
🔁 Order Again?: Yes.
A very enjoyable dumpling. The shrimp was cooked just right — still bouncy and tender rather than rubbery. There was a decent amount of shrimp in the filling, with visible chunks that you could taste in every bite. The coriander paired nicely without overwhelming the shrimp. A solid choice overall.
Soup Dumpling – Juicy Pork & Snow Crab
😋 Enjoyment: 6.5/10
💰 Price Paid: $19
🎯 Benchmark Price: $19
📊 EV Score: 6.5/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
Pretty good, though I would have liked more snow crab to come through. I could taste the crab in every bite, but it felt a bit light on quantity. That said, I understand that adding more would drive the cost up. The wrapper was soft and easy to eat, not too tough or chewy, which made the dumpling enjoyable.
Soup Dumpling – Spicy Juicy Pork
😋 Enjoyment: 6/10
💰 Price Paid: $16
🎯 Benchmark Price: $16
📊 EV Score: 6/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
This one was fine, but it didn’t deliver on the spice. I was hoping for a spicier version of the pork and chive dumpling, but chives weren’t part of the filling here, which was a miss for me. The flavour wasn’t bad, but without noticeable heat, it didn’t stand out.
Soup Dumpling – Chocolate
😋 Enjoyment: 4/10
💰 Price Paid: $5
🎯 Benchmark Price: $4
📊 EV Score: 3.2/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
Definitely an unusual menu item. We ordered it out of curiosity, and while the chocolate itself tasted fine, the overall concept just didn’t work for me. Dumplings, in my mind, are savoury and salty, and the combination of chocolate inside a dumpling wrapper felt odd. I wouldn’t order this again, but if you’re adventurous, it’s worth trying once just to see what you think.
Pan-Fried Dumplings – Lamb & Coriander
😋 Enjoyment: 5.5/10
💰 Price Paid: $17
🎯 Benchmark Price: $15
📊 EV Score: 4.9/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
I was expecting a stronger lamb flavour, but it was muted to the point where it didn’t really come through. Normally, lamb has a distinct taste, but here it felt a bit lost. The cornstarch slurry they used created a nice crispy lace across the dumplings, which gave the dish a fun texture. That crispiness was lighter than I expected, and I would have preferred a bit more crunch on the flat side of each dumpling. Overall, they were okay, but nothing special.
Pan-Fried Dumplings – Beef & Curry
Image credit: Yelp
😋 Enjoyment: 5.5/10
💰 Price Paid: $17
🎯 Benchmark Price: $15
📊 EV Score: 4.9/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
This was my least favourite dumpling of the night. The curry flavour overpowered everything, to the point that I couldn’t even tell I was eating beef. It left a lingering aftertaste, and since it was the last dumpling we tried, that flavour stuck with me for the rest of the evening. Definitely one I wouldn’t order again.
Final Thoughts
Sammi and Soupe Dumpling is a welcome addition to Ottawa’s food scene, especially since they may be the only place in the city serving authentic soup dumplings made in-house. The ByWard Market location is lively, often busy, and best suited for casual dining with friends or family. With plenty of seating and quick service, it’s convenient, though the close table setup means you won’t have much privacy. Parking is another downside, especially on weekends, when finding a spot nearby is nearly impossible.
Food-wise, the soup dumplings are the stars of the menu. The Juicy Pork & Chive is the clear winner for me, with the Shrimp & Coriander and Juicy Pork & Snow Crab also worth ordering. The other dumplings ranged from decent to forgettable, with the Beef & Curry being the weakest. Still, the overall experience makes it worth visiting, especially if you’re craving dumplings that go beyond the standard options in Ottawa.
I’ll definitely be back, both to revisit my favourites and to explore more of the menu. Sammi and Soupe Dumpling isn’t perfect, but it fills a gap in the Ottawa food scene, and for that alone, it’s worth checking out.