China Max Dumpling House kindly provided me with this meal, but all reviews are 100% honest and my own. This article may contain affiliate links. If you book or purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
China Max Dumpling House on Convoy Street is a San Diego restaurant that the internet has a lot of feelings about. It closed after a fire in 2020, came back with a multi-million dollar renovation and new ownership, and now it’s one of the most talked-about spots in the Kearny Mesa food corridor.
Curious what all the hype was about, I went for a visit and tried their popular AYCE deal, which includes dishes like dumplings, buns, desserts, drinks, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about how it went.
Quick Answer: Is China Max Dumpling House Worth It?
Yes, with some caveats. The AYCE format costs $34.99 on weekdays or $37.99 on weekends, and it’s a pretty great deal if you go in with a game plan and stick to the right dishes. The handmade soup dumplings are the main event (especially the pork XLB) but there are several great options on the menu. The key is knowing what to prioritize.
At a Glance
| Address | 4698 Convoy St, Suite C101, San Diego, CA 92111 |
| Hours | Mon–Wed 11am–9pm / Thu–Sat 11am–10pm / Sun 11am–9pm |
| Phone | (858) 256-0260 |
| Price | $34.99/person weekday $37.99/person weekend (AYCE) |
| Best for | Soup dumpling fans, groups, Convoy food crawls |
| Must-order | Pork XLB, Wagyu Beef Dumplings, Chicken Wontons in Chili Oil, Cucumber Salad, Matcha Lava Bun |
| Parking | Parking lot on site — competitive, especially weekends |
| Reservations | Recommended, especially on weekends |
How the AYCE Works
This is important to understand before you go, because it shapes how you order.
The all-you-can-eat format covers the entire menu, including appetizers, soups, dumplings, noodles, rice dishes, desserts, drinks, and more. Most AYCE dim sum spots limit you to a set list of dishes, but here you can order anything. The coolest thing about this? It’s a low-pressure way to try dishes you’ve never had before without committing to a full meal of it. Your table gets 90 minutes from the time your first order arrives, and each person in the group can put in two orders at a time. Once your order arrives, put in your next order right away to get the most out of your time.
At $34.99 on a weekday, it’s one of the better AYCE deals on Convoy Street. The way to get the most out of it: order the dumplings first and in rounds, since they take a few minutes to come out. Don’t fill up on rice or buns early. Save room for at least one dessert.
What to Order at China Max: My Rankings
Order First
Pork XLB (Soup Dumplings)
The best thing on the menu. The outer layer is thin and soft without falling apart, and the pork filling is savory and well-seasoned. It’s salty, but not overly so. These are what most people come here for, and it’s easy to see why. Order a round immediately when you sit down, then order again.
Chicken Wontons in Chili Oil
The wontons are soft and delicate, the chicken filling is tender and light, and the chili oil sauce has a gentle heat and a touch of sweetness that ties everything together. It’s topped with green onions, which is a nice addition. The contrast between the delicate wonton and the chili oil works perfectly. Don’t skip these.
Wagyu Beef Dumplings
The texture on these is different from the XLB. The meat is firmer and a little sticky, which is why I prefer the pork XLB over these, but the flavor is still great; it’s rich and savory. They’re not as amazing as the XLB, but still worth ordering at least once.
Cucumber Salad
If you’re planning to order an appetizer, get this. It’s crunchy, fresh, and has a nice tang with a little kick at the end. It cuts through the richness of the dumplings perfectly. Order it early.
Matcha Lava Bun
This one surprised me. I don’t usually go for warm dessert buns. These buns are light and airy, not overly sweet, and have a faint coconut note (as someone who doesn’t like coconut, I didn’t find it overpowering at all). The filling inside has a yogurt-y tang that works better than it sounds. There are some chunks in it that had a texture I didn’t love, but I was still happy to have ordered it.
Drinks & Ice Cream
Drinks are included in the AYCE price and fully self-serve. There’s a tea station you can walk up to whenever you want, so you’re never waiting on a refill. There’s also a fully stocked fridge full of canned sodas for you to grab at your leisure. I enjoyed the teas; the mango tea is slightly sweeter, the peach is a little lighter.
The ice cream works the same way. There are four flavors: strawberry, green tea, vanilla, and orange. My favorites were the strawberry and orange flavors. Both were rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. This was a fantastic way to end the meal.
Worth Trying
Truffle XLB
Similar to the pork XLB, but the truffle flavor increases the saltiness significantly. A few bites in and it’s a lot. If you love truffle and you have a high salt tolerance, you’ll probably like these. For me, the pork is the better call.
BBQ Pork Bun
Fluffy, soft bun with a sweet BBQ pork filling inside. The bun itself is light and pillowy. The filling is tasty but not as bold as I’d have liked. Fair warning: I’m not personally a bun person, so take this one with a grain of salt. If you like bao, you’ll probably enjoy it.
Steamed Custard Buns
Simple and comforting. The bun is soft and light, and the warmth of it reminded me of pumpkin pie filling. It has that same cozy, custardy sweetness without being heavy. Not a flashy dessert, but pleasant nonetheless.
Skip It
Pan Fried Pork XLB
A lot of people love this one, so this take might be a little controversial. I understand the appeal in theory: China Max’s delicious pork dumpling, but fried. In practice, the crunch works against what makes the XLB special. The delicacy of the wrapper doesn’t survive the frying. Personally, I’d rather get more steamed pork XLB instead.
Orange Chicken
Not the orange chicken I’m used to. The sauce is tangy and slightly sharp at first, but it mellows out as you eat more of it. The chicken itself is very crispy. I liked it, but it’s not what I’d prioritize in my 90 minutes.
Fried Shumai
Fine. Crispy, fried, tastes like shumai. But it didn’t stand out next to everything else on the table and I kept reaching for the wontons and dumplings instead. If you love shumai specifically, give it a try; it’s still good. Just not the move when the pork XLB exists.
The Vibe
China Max is bright, busy, and full of people having a good time. When you sit down, your server will walk you through exactly how the AYCE works, what to expect with timing, and how to order. It’s not the kind of place you go for a quiet dinner. The energy is high and the pace is quick. For the right crowd, that’s part of the fun.
The Location: Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa
China Max sits on Convoy Street in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, the city’s unofficial Asian food corridor and one of the most dense concentrations of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese restaurants anywhere in Southern California.
There’s a parking lot attached to the plaza, which is a helpful bonus since parking is usually a challenge in Convoy. The lot fills up quickly on weekends, though, so give yourself extra time.
If you’re planning a full Convoy food crawl, Kearny Mesa has enough to fill an entire afternoon. And if you’re searching for things to do around the rest of San Diego after, my free things to do in San Diego guide is a good reference for filling out the day.
For where to stay, search available hotels near Kearny Mesa and Convoy Street here.
Who Is China Max Best For?
Anyone who loves soup dumplings and wants to try a lot of them without paying per-basket prices. It’s also a strong pick for groups. The AYCE format is social, the table gets to try everything, and the 90-minute window moves fast when you’re having fun. If you’re newer to dim sum or XLB specifically, this is a low-pressure place to explore the menu without committing to one dish.
Less ideal if you want a quiet, low-key dinner. The energy is high and the room is full.
Final Thoughts
China Max lives up to the hype on the things it does best. The pork XLB is the ultimate winner for me. The dumplings are handmade, fresh, and delicious. The chicken wontons in chili oil are an underrated order that most people overlook, and the cucumber salad is a classic.
The AYCE format rewards smart ordering. Go in knowing what to prioritize, pace your rounds, and you’ll leave full and happy. It’s worth checking out. Just go with the pork XLB first.
Looking for more San Diego food guides? My free things to do in San Diego guide covers the whole city, and if brunch is more your speed, I’ve been working through the best spots in San Diego. Start with The Werewolf in the Gaslamp Quarter or Armonía Kitchen in Pacific Beach.
FAQ: China Max Dumpling House San Diego
The AYCE (all-you-can-eat) option is $34.99 per person on weekdays and $37.99 per person on weekends. Tea, canned soda, and ice cream are included. The 90-minute time limit starts when your first dish arrives.
The pork XLB (soup dumplings) are a must. After that: chicken wontons in chili oil, wagyu beef dumplings, and the cucumber salad. The matcha lava bun is worth trying for dessert.
Yes. The staff explain how the AYCE format works when you sit down, the menu is approachable, and the format lets you try a lot of dishes without pressure. A good entry point to soup dumplings if you haven’t had them before.
Does China Max Dumpling House take reservations?
Yes, and on weekends especially, reservations are recommended. Walk-ins are possible on weekdays but the restaurant fills up fast.
4698 Convoy St, Suite C101, San Diego, CA 92111, on the main Convoy Street food corridor in Kearny Mesa, San Diego. There’s an on-site parking lot, but it fills up, particularly on weekends.
Yes, if you order strategically. Prioritize the handmade dumplings and wontons, order in rounds, and avoid filling up on rice early. The deal is particularly strong on weekdays at $34.99.
Same location and name, but under new ownership after a fire closed the original in 2020. The new concept centers on handmade soup dumplings and dim sum.
About the Author
Linds
Hi, I’m Linds! I’m a travel writer focused on honest hotel reviews, food guides, and travel itineraries. I share real travel experiences to help travelers make better trip decisions.
