Ping Pong

Dim Sum at Dubai Mall 33 Reviews

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2011

We can’t help but be impressed with the food offerings at Dubai Mall, and Ping Pong is no exception. Tucked away on the lower ground floor, this Asian delight is rather swanky, with its dim lighting and sophisticated, monochrome decor. Friendly and informative staff will help novices sift through the menu and DIY ordering process, and steer you through the vast menu of juices, mocktails and amazingly beautiful flowering teas. Food-wise, we recommend taking a risk and trying something new because, while old Asia hands will have tasted better dim sum in the Far East, they won’t have tasted better in Dubai.

The steamed spicy chicken dumplings are delicate explosions of spices and coriander, and certainly live up to the ‘steamed parcels of deliciousness’ moniker. The fluffy buns are light and airy, while the fried options (the crisp hoi sin duck spring roll with plum sauce is a particular favourite) are crisp-ily tasty. Add to that clay pot dishes, salads and soups, and even the fussiest of eaters – and that includes kids – will find something to satisfy their pangs. It's perfect for a light lunch or snack; our only criticism is that Ping Pong can work out rather pricey if you’re ravenous.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 28 March 2011

• Previous reviews
  • 05 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 28 September,2009- reviewed by Daisy Carrington

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Terence on 18 Feb ' 12 at 16:38

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I went with my husband today for lunch, service was quite nice. Staff is friendly in general. Food is ok, we had duck puff, Ha Gao (shrimp dumpling), spicy chicken dumpling, duck spring roll, vietnamese seafood roll, steamed chicken rice in coconut source, and steamed Choy Sum (Cantonese vegetable). Since this is a chain from the U.K., the taste of the food is rather 'westernized' and is acceptable. However, I find the ingredients of the dim sum rather limited and boring (e.g. the duck puff and duck roll are more or less the same taste, just different wrappings). Having said that, the taste of the food is ok and the presentation of the food is also ok, just overpriced for what you get. I would recommend this place for those who did not have much experience with dim sum.

Posted by: Ish on 09 Dec ' 11 at 19:55

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

My date was super excited to take me to ping pong, i'd never heard about it.. i enjoyed the experience. SPICY CHICKEN DUMPLINGS; SEAFOOD SOUP is a must!!! Just go for it without hesitation.
i am not a fan of black interiors, but the spot lights above the heads was very fine, and the food never got lost!

Unimpressive - Duck spring rolls, too thin to be called a spring roll. Also not too pleased with their prices, 20-25 for a plate, that's three dumplings only. they should pump it up to four at least!

Good experience overall, nice for in-between snacks.

Posted by: BIJAL SHAH on 03 Nov ' 11 at 06:09

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Cant express how pathetic the service was. Mean staff, always scowling and no manners at all.

We went after reading all the reviews and were expecting to have a good time, but sadly, we had to leave mid way through the meal as we could not take the treatment anymore. Finished our lunch elsewhere, where we felt more welcome.

Posted by: Jennifer on 31 Jul ' 11 at 07:43

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I been to this restaurant twice with my fiance and we love the dim sum from this restaurant.
A variety of traditional Chinese dim sum serve in small portions including an assortment of steamed or fried dumplings.
The deep fried foods is eat up crisp and not greasy, full of flavor and it won't make u feel heavy even u overeating.
And they do serve with vegetarian meal as well, it will be convenience for those vegetarian.
This restaurant is good for friday's brunch.

The only thing which i think is not worthy is the price is too costly which is not good for those who has budget limit.

Posted by: Fady on 24 Apr ' 11 at 16:10

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Brunch served
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Guys Lazy friday is a fantastic brunch option for those that do not need alcohol on friday lunch... we payed 155 AED and we had so much food that we felt guilty :-)

any be side the quantity the food is good...

I reccomend it!!!

Posted by: Peng L.T. on 12 Apr ' 11 at 11:06

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I am surprised to see some of this review, we are regular at ping pong and I believe this restaurant is getting busier as time pass by because people like it as much as we do...

My recommendation will be chicken dumpling and the fish griddled post-it... love the place, love the friendly service, love the location...

NICE STUFF... keep up....

Posted by: iain m. on 19 Feb ' 11 at 11:03

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

we were there for our st. valantine it was great... we absolutely love the place and the food is delitious...

Posted by: Sarah K on 16 Feb ' 11 at 14:10

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Waiting for 50 minutes for food in any restaurant is not acceptable (esp when you've waited to order too!). when its pre-made dim sum that just needs to be fried or steamed, there really is no excuse. This understaffed place looked full as people had been waiting forever for their food- not because it was good. Lots of disgruntled customers; often getting up to get their own drinks from the serving area or grumbling between tables. And the food was mediocre on arrival; no apology offered- was there even a manager on duty?

Posted by: karthick on 15 Dec ' 10 at 14:22

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

We never had DIM Sum before and when we arrived even if friends told us it was good we felt, let's go for some thing we know.

The young chinese girl start telling us we need to order 4 dishes every thing comes in 3 pcs and there we were lost already...

she was very nice and start guiding true the menu and finally we place the order... it was so good definetelly this was an experience we reccomend...

Posted by: Bianca on 12 Oct ' 10 at 07:44

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I have been to a couple of restaurants in Dubai who claim to have chinese cuisine, but I have always been disappointed with the dim sum served. So far, only Ping Pong has been successful enough to make me come back for more, although I find them a bit expensive (brunch is AED132 without drinks). It is, I daresay, the most authentic dim sum I've ever had in Dubai...the closest to the ones I've had in HK.

Also, It would have been better if they had a branch in Marina as it is nearer to my home and dubai mall is just too busy.

Posted by: seemi ahmed on 19 Aug ' 10 at 22:59

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Read all the great reviews, decided to go for Iftar. I dont know where the others ate, the Ping Pong at Dubai Mall we went to was a joke. Service was slow, despite very few diners. The waiter forgot to bring some of the stuff we had ordered from the Iftar set menu, despite many reminders . Food was foul. Most of the dim sum was soggy, Calamari was overcooked...it was chewy like leather. Steamed berry dessert was hard, ice cream was good. Mocktail was boring, everything was out of a tin, which had passed its expiry date.

Posted by: hani abu Ayyash on 06 Jul ' 10 at 09:50

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I would reccomend ping pong to any one... we were there on friday and the unlimited dim sum offer was very good value...

Posted by: Mrs K. Pillay on 25 Jun ' 10 at 09:20

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Now that people start to take holiday and traffic became better it is the perfect time to visit temperature friendly malls....
I was in Dubai Mall and called to a friend of mine to ask her any place which was nice to check for our lunch and she mentioned Ping Pong. at first I thought it was a joke but it wasn’t.
Jenny, you are a star we loved it!!!!!
Drinks and food were very very nice and the staff was nice too.

Posted by: Noora on 20 May ' 10 at 19:49

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Me and my sister had our dine there today, just loved it and sure i will go back without a question ^_^

Posted by: Suhhas Muliyil on 20 May ' 10 at 13:21

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I spend a lot of my time visiting different restaurtants as it is part of my job. I found Ping Pong very good stuff with very good pricing, the one I liked the most were the steam dumpling (crab and prawn very nice)....

Service lot better then many places around the mall, and doesn't even feel like been into a mall. the decor may make you think the bill would be abouve 130 aed but it was 90 AED at the end...

Posted by: S on 11 Feb ' 10 at 10:05

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Ping Pong was great - if you like the one in London, you'll like the one here (albeit without the alcohol in Dubai). Give the Qi drinks a shot - no sugar, and absolutely delicious! Service was great, and the food worth every penny!

Posted by: grace on 04 Dec ' 09 at 17:05

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I am a real fan if Dim Sum, so I was delighted to hear that Ping Pong had made it to the UAE. Great food and friendly service. The steamed dim sum were light, delicious, healthy and quite simply a taste sensation. I can't wait to go back!

Posted by: Dr.D on 26 Oct ' 09 at 12:28

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Hrmmm perhaps I ate at a different Ping Pong to the other comments from people here, but anyway, pretty sure there is only one in Dubai Mall so here goes my review.

Firstly, I don't know if the people who claimed to have been from Singapore ever paid for their Dim Sum in Singapore, but if they had, they surely didn't pay close to the price Dim Sum charges.

Let's be straight up about this. The idea of Dim Sum, is cheap, quick, edible food, served in rapid succession. Ping Pong is not cheap, not rapid, and succession is not the word I would use... however, the food is edible although I wouldn't rate it stellar.

This was my second foray into Ping Pong. The first I did not eat because I find it hard to part with 22 AED + 10% for a plate of dumping - and on the day I went the set menu wasn't available - they only do sets on weekdays. As it was untrusted and new, I decided Yo sushi a safer bet just a few metres away, and had a good meal, even if it was Yo Sushi... anyway...

Foray 2 I went with a business partner of mine who is fluent in Chinese, so ordering was a snap and we had no trouble. Service was quite good and staff were attentive and nice.

The food, and I guess that's the important bit, was ok. Not stellar as I mentioned above, but OK. The set menu is probably the best value and offers a decent sample of what Ping Pong has to offer. Overall, OK, not stellar, and not worth paying rack rate for, but worth if for the set menu.

I said I would eat there again, but would be wary about doing so. It's OK, but there's better choices around.

Posted by: Tatyana on 30 Sep ' 09 at 13:01

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Was there couple of weeks back, really liked the interior (modern and sleek). Food was really ncie and light, although me and my friend had 2 rounds of orders but didn't feel heavy at all!
Service was very friendly: LESLIE from SA is a really great guy and very efficcient and helpful! :)

Posted by: Stacey on 30 Sep ' 09 at 12:04

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I would surely come back to this place. I love Chinese food and this place is really something to look back to. Keep it up Ping Pong!

Posted by: Oliver on 30 Sep ' 09 at 11:59

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I was there last Eid and I can say that inspite of the fact that the place was busy, the staff manages to assist me and my colleagues in every way they can with full courtesy and concern about enjoying our food. The food were amazing especially the ones that we tried - the smoked duck salad, har gao dumplings, crispy asparagus, crispy hoi sin duck spring roll, chicken sticky rice and amongst other. The cucumber and apple cocktail is superb! The ambience is excellent. I think that it is just fair for people to express their gratitude and share their wonderfull experience at PING PONG Restaurant. So, I will tell my colleagues as well to share their experience through this review - thanks to Time Out for having this.

Posted by: Clifford on 30 Sep ' 09 at 10:21

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I visited a couple of weeks ago. It was not planned and I had the kids in toe. The bite size food is always an attraction when feeding the kids, however we were very impressed with the food and the drink selection. It may get a bit expensive when feeding the kids as they would have just kept going and going. I'm not a great fan of hard seats but maybe that's just the age kreeping on. The service was a bit muddled but that is what you expect with any new place opening. I expect it will be better when we return, which we intend to do.

Posted by: Gerry on 30 Sep ' 09 at 06:27

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I went with a group of friends to PING PONG for dinner in their first week of opening and we all loved it. All 4 of us had previously lived in Singapore and missed the Dim Sum there so we expected alot from Ping Pong. The flowering tea was not only tasty but beautiful to look at and the steamed Dim Dum was definately a favourite along with the duck spring rolls (we ordered a second round of these). The wait staff were very friendly and did struggle a bit with the menu but seeing it was their first week opened they did a great job. Over all I thought the food was fresh and extremely tasty. I will definately be back for dinner but will also be taking my kids for lunch as I am sure they will enjoy the food and I will be happy that they are eating heathily.

Posted by: Kevin on 30 Sep ' 09 at 04:58

All these reviews sound suspiciously like they have been entered by the owner or staff who work there!

Posted by: Leo on 29 Sep ' 09 at 11:53

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I am living in UAE for almost 3 years now and since I came here, we have been looking for an authentic chinese cuisine/gourmet dishes but found none untill my friend introduced me to PING PONG. It was the first week of PING PONG when we had a dinner and it was really a great experience not only for having oozingly delicious foods and drinks but also the warm welcome of the staff making us all feel comfortable and enjoy the food. If PING PONG in London made all Kings and Queens happy then PING PONG in UAE made all walks of life happier and satisfied due to the reasonable price at a very satisfying foods and drinks!!! I'll bring all my bosses here and believe it or not, already speaded the news to my colleauges giving PING PONG a TWO-THUMBS-UP!!! :)

Posted by: Rony on 29 Sep ' 09 at 11:13

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Awesome service, amazing food, great atmosphere, will definitely come back

Posted by: jeoni on 29 Sep ' 09 at 10:38

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Interestingly PING PONG!!! Amazing Authentic Chinese food, a definite must try Chinese restaurant. Serves various dumplings and the best mocktails in Dubai. Im not a fan of salads but the the waitress suggested the smoked duck salad, dressing was amazing and duck taste so delicious that you'll order for more. Its not ordinary so I highly suggest you try it and I will surely drop by at this store everytime I'm in Dubai mall.

Posted by: Mira on 29 Sep ' 09 at 10:15

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

This spot has an amazing array of quality and authentic Dim Sums and a really decent menu, it is perfectly located in Dubai Mall and has an extremly friendly atmosphere.
Have been there already twice and was quite impressed both times, this is a place to enjoy interesting food that will redefine Chinese for you.

Posted by: Antonios on 29 Sep ' 09 at 08:24

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Definetely a place that was missing from dubai. Service was as positively surprising as the flower opening in that excellent tea they served us. Now with my decision to go healthy dieting, you will be seeing us often.
P.S Chico your alc-free coctails rocked!

Posted by: Martin on 29 Sep ' 09 at 07:57

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I went for dinner with some friends and we all agreed it was far above expectations! It is definitely the best meeting place in Dubai Mall, and it is a MUST to stop by for a mocktail and a portion of lamb puff!!
It is definitely a breeze of fresh air for Dubai diners!

Posted by: Jihad on 29 Sep ' 09 at 05:50

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I really enjoyed the food, it was healthy and light. The waiters were very friendly and efficient. i will definitely recommend the restaurant to my friends. Keep on the good work.

Posted by: Angelo on 29 Sep ' 09 at 04:32

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I totally enjoyed my experience in Ping Pong, I never been to Hong Kong but the Crispy Prawn and the Corianda ravioli where very nice. the drink menu is unique, I had the one with the tapioca pearls in it never tryed them before. The chinese server was attentive and welcoming nice no to hear good evening sir!!! for ones ;-0

Price 87 AED well if u go for dinner in similar ambience you spent a lot more...

definitely going back!!

Posted by: Julia on 28 Sep ' 09 at 20:17

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I’ll definitely come back in Ping Pong with my friends! In Chinese restaurant should be Chinese spirit!! The Chinese staff was very friendly and hospitable, finally been broken stereotypes of Dubai’s service :“good morning siiir, good morning mooom”))) I have never been in Png Png in London, so I can’t compare, but I really enjoyed my food in this restaurant. Unfortunately they do not have alcohol, but alcohol-free cocktails are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, I've never tasted anything so delicious! finally something new!