Several months after the sign was first spotted on the former Roma Bakery building, Yee Siang Dumplings has opened at 4837 Washtenaw Ave in Pittsfield Township.
The 13-table restaurant offers a variety of authentic Chinese dishes, including dumplings, buns and noodles.
Thirteen types of dumplings are on the menu at Yee Siang Dumplings - which translates to "delicious dumplings" - including beef and onion, pork and shiitake, and mushroom and cabbage. Dumplings are available pan fried, boiled and steamed.
The restaurant is in the midst of a soft opening, and has been slowly rolling out new sections of the menu. Currently available are the dumplings and a selection of appetizers, including marinated duck, spicy beef tendon, sesame and chili chicken, and silken tofu with preserved egg.
Chinese stuffed buns and hamburgers will soon also be available. Waiter Naisi Zhou explained that unlike their American counterparts Chinese hamburgers are stewed, not grilled or fried, and are served on soft buns.
"It's very different from an American burger," said Zhou. "The flavor is hard to describe. It's more delicious. You have to try it."
A selection of four Asian noodle dishes will round out the menu, including hot chili noodles with beef, spicy beef noodle soup, cha chiang noodles, and Korean cold noodles with kimchi.
Prices range from $4.99 to $10.49 for appetizers. Dumplings cost $5.99 to $6.99 for ten, and $8.49 to $10.99 for 18. Burgers and buns range from $6 to $7, and noodles run from $7.49 to $8.99.
The restaurant is owned by Wei Guo Tie. This is Tie's first restaurant, but he has extensive experience in the hospitality industry, and most recently ran a hotel in the Chicago area.
Zhou said that the Washtenaw Avenue location was chosen because the area is safe, and the nearby Secretary of State's office attracts a large crowd to the area. Dumplings were chosen as the focus of the menu because they appeal to both Americans and Chinese immigrants.
Jessica Webster covers food and dining for The Ann Arbor News. Reach her at JessicaWebster@mlive.com. You also can follow her on Twitter and on Google+.