This wonton soup isn't quite up to par with wonton from a good Chinese restaurant. It's certainly not bad, though. Again, we're talking about something that's ready in minutes in the microwave, and since there are very few other frozen grocery store versions of this type of dish, we wind up comparing it with restaurant food—which, of course, gives the Trader Joe's product a distinct disadvantage. Poor TJ's.
But quite often, their frozen dishes somehow find themselves in the same league as restaurant-quality foods. This happy little bowl of Asian soup is definitely much better than something I'd expect from a frozen microwave dish, but it's not quite as good as soup I'd expect from the local Chinese place (the
good local Chinese place, not the sketchy place on the corner that's been shut down for selling cat-meat).
The wontons were actually the best part of this stuff. I can tell there's actually some chicken in the dumplings, and I've no complaints about the dough. The broth is what you'd expect - probably the hardest aspect of the soup to screw up: it's salty and a little miso-esque. What I thought fell a little short of the mark were the vegetables. They simply tasted like they had recently been frozen...which of course, they
had, but because we know TJ's can do the impossible, we want them to do it all of the time. The veggies certainly weren't bad, but they just didn't taste fresh to me. Perhaps a slightly different array of greens would allow its recent frozenness to be masked a bit more by the salty broth and microwave magic. It seems to me that it's a bit difficult to mask an unfresh pod of peas. They're sooo tasty when they're fresh...and just so...
mediocre when they're not.
Sonia gives it a 3. I'm torn between a 3 and a 3.5. But I think I'll go with a 3.5, just because TJ's used the name "Trader Ming" and not just plain old "Trader Joe." I like it when they use those unique ethnic names. They should use them more often.
Bottom line: 6.5 out of 10 stars.
I overheard an tj employee say that she just makes it from scratch.. she takes the frozen chicken cilantro wontons, adds broth and whatever veggies... much easier and at least you know how much salt is added...
ReplyDeleteI should have checked this site first b/c I bought 2 packages of this today and ate 1. Well, I just ate the wontons b/c the broth was so bad. Tasted like... this may sound gross but the first thing that came to mind was the sweat from a shoe after a long run. Not that I've ever tasted that! But really, it tasted like sweaty feet. And it's very difficult to screw up wonton soup too. I'm usually a huge TJ fan, but this was terrible and I'm either going to return the second package or give it to my dog.
ReplyDeleteI need to update my review of this - I didn't have anything else to eat, so I had the second bowl. I have to say, it was much better than the first. I don't know why it tasted different than the first time I had it, but the broth was nowhere near as offensively "feet" tasting. I'd give it 3.5 stars as well.
DeleteI just finished a bowl of this soup and wanted to find out who makes it, (because you know Trader Joe goes to big companies to put their name on it) because I I thought it was so good!
DeleteHOWEVER, like with all frozen food from Trader Joe's it just needs a little tweaking and then Voila,buts perfection!
Here's what I did.....
Followed directions but at 3 mins into the 4 1/2 mins total cook time; I took it out added about 1/4 teaspoon of the hot Asian sauce with the rooster on it (my family calls it 'cock sauce' hehehe) and added a few squirts of LOW sodium soy sauce and a drop of sesame oil and play sit back in the microwave for a minute and a half then I let it sit for 2 minutes and then I ate it it was delicious better than most Chinese restaurant soup!
i love this soup too!!! i think sometimes people like to just be negative and take out their frustrations on reviews. its weird but i see it all the time.
ReplyDeleteI recently bought this soup and was really impressed. Granted if I was just at home and could make whatever, this would not be my first pick. But for bringing to work and only having to microwave it...its great!
ReplyDeleteI am eating this soup as I write my review. I think it is fantastic for a quick lunch option. The veggies taste fresh, the wontons are perfectly done and the broth is exactly what wonton soup broth is supposed to taste like. As someone who is not usually a fan of TJ prepared foods, I am going all out and giving this one a 4.5/5.
ReplyDeleteit is a great soup but I can see why people think its bland. my version: add ramen, lemon and the wonton soup to make my own wonton ramen soup! filling, low-cal, and delish.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Isabell!
DeleteYeah the wontons and soup broth were good, but the veggies fell short of the mark.
ReplyDeleteI like it a lot, although the veggies *are* a bit bland. My real complaint is the packaging - that film really is hard to get off, and you could easily burn yourself trying!
ReplyDeleteI think the broth could be more chickeny and less peppery. I always have to cough after the first few spoonfull. I have to try the sesame oil like the other reviewer said and maybe more water and a little low sodium chicken flavor to the broth. I wish TJ would make a traditional wonton soup. I still buy this whenever I'm at the store, though along with other Asian entrees.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is! I add a few drops of dark sesame oil and a little soy sauce, which is a matter of preference and par for the course for any Chinese food I buy. It just puts the perfect touch on an already perfect soup.
ReplyDeleteI'm Chinese, so I have been eating dumplings all my life. These are really not that bad at all. They remind me of food court Chinese food and considering the calorie count on this decent sized bowl of soup and dumplings - I'd buy it again and again.
ReplyDeleteI thought it had really good taste but it was so spicy to me. My taste buds have been wacky lately so maybe it was just me. I added a vegetable boullion cube and it was very good but I'll leave it for my husband because of the spiciness.
ReplyDeleteI love it. Completely obsessed. Broth is delicious won tons are ample in size. I want some right now but tj closed at 9 pm
ReplyDeleteGreat soup, but I add a dash of salsa and about 1/2 of a boullion cube. Much better!
ReplyDelete