In certain areas of New York (such as)Flushing), you can’t take five steps without bumping into a steamer basket filled with ideal, fluffy dumplings. In a town offering so many options, you naturally need to know where to locate the top jiaozi, wontons, mandu, and other varieties. If you wish to impress someone with your expertise on where to find the finest dumplings, this is the guide for you. (Explore our soup dumpling-focused guide if you’re seeking)xiao long bao.)
THE SPOTS
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Culinary Style
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is a compact, perpetually bustling eatery located on Grand Street, offering traditional Fujian dumplings, peanut noodle dishes, and soups. It also happens to beone of our preferred dining spots in New York. Take a seat on a counter stool facing the street with a plate of the finest dumplings available for $5. Both the pork and chive, as well as the chicken and cabbage dumplings, feature delicate, soft wrappers and extremely juicy fillings that don’t require any dipping sauces. Shu Jiao Fu Zhou also offers bags of frozen dumplings for takeout—50 pieces will cost you $12 and can save numerous future evenings.
Handmade Dumpling
Crammed between refrigerators in this small Flushing store gives the feeling of being in a family kitchen where they just happen to prepare some of the city’s finest dumplings. Basic and extremely fresh, their wrappers are thick yet not overly so, with a dimpled texture and a silky feel, offering just the perfect amount of elasticity. They offer over 20 types, and the boiled ones especially are so adorable that it’s hard not to imagine them as characters in a children’s film. If you try only one type, go for the tender, fresh-tasting boiled pork and cabbage. However, the fried lamb and cilantro dumplings—hot, aromatic bursts of flavor—are also an excellent option.
North Dumpling
A constant crowd of skaters, parking enforcement staff, and local residents can be found outside North Dumpling on Essex Street, and there’s a solid reason for that. Their exceptionally spicy, slippery dumplings are among our top choices in this section of Chinatown, and the store remains open until 10:30pm daily. Whether you order them steamed or fried, these dumplings make an ideal small treat whenever you’re in the neighborhood. Try one before dipping it in vinegar and hot sauce, then savor the remaining nine dumplings in Seward Park.
Mr. Bun
The walls of Mr. Bun, a Shanghainese eatery located in Bensonhurst, are adorned with charming anime figures pondering equally adorable, grinning dumplings. It’s easy to see why one might be inspired to create art based on the cuisine here. The dumplings at this laid-back restaurant are exceptional. There are the clear favorites, such as delicate yet sturdy soup dumplings filled with either pork or a combination of pork and crab. Additionally, there are more unexpected delights, like sticky rice shu mai wrapped in steamed rice paper, which are small bundles of sticky, slightly chewy goodness.
White Bear
If you’re looking for truly outstanding dumplings, head to White Bear in Flushing. This small spot only offers takeout, and it features a large menu written on the wall above the counter with 34 choices available. The top favorite is definitely the plate of wontons with hot sauce (item 6). These wontons are filled with pork and vegetables and have a soft texture with just a slight chewiness. A serving includes 12, which is perfect for a light meal (you can also purchase 100 frozen wontons to take home if you’d like to prepare more later).
Northern King Dumpling
This cozy place in Murray Hill features well-organized refrigerators and is known for its wang mandu: large, soft buns filled with ingredients such as pork and cabbage, or a combination of kimchi and pork that has a slightly cheesy flavor. The standard mandu—with elastic, slightly crinkled skin, served by the dozen—are also great, particularly when drizzled with chili sauce and vinegar. Grab a large sesame ball and a twisted doughnut to enjoy later.
Mama’s Noodle House
Mama’s Noodle House is Brooklyn’s equivalent to White Bear. If you order the No. 5 Hot and Spicy Wontons, you’ll receive large, juicy dumplings filled with pork and shrimp wrapped in thin skins. They are covered in a Sichuan peppercorn sauce that will cause your lips to tingle, along with plenty of fresh green herbs and sweet soy sauce. This small eatery only offers takeout: you’ll place your order directly with one of the two chefs who own the restaurant, then find a comfortable spot on the sidewalk to experience a state of euphoria brought on by the wontons.
Liu’s Shanghai
The pork and scallop xiao long bao at Liu’s Shanghai could be our top choice for soup dumplings in the area. Within the delicate, golden wrappers, you’ll discover full, dried bay scallops that have become tender from the broth inside. It’s as if you’re tasting the ocean, but with the finest textures of xiao long bao and accompanied by a black vinegar and ginger dipping sauce. This informal, sit-down restaurant located in Bath Beach also offers pork and crab xiao long bao, along with dessert-style fried wontons topped with chili oil, peanuts, and sugar—each worth trying at least once.
Deluxe Green Bo
Luxurious Green Bo is an excellent spot for a small group in Chinatown, as there are several round tables that comfortably seat about six people. The interior is minimalistic, but the staff at this cash-only establishment is consistently very welcoming. Begin with a couple of orders of xiao long bao. While there are no vibrant wrappers or fancy fillings, the traditional versions are straightforward and tasty. The crispy little pork buns are always a good choice, and we also enjoy the spicy wontons soaked in peanut sauce and hot chili oil.
Petite Dumpling
Little Dumpling is a fittingly named, small Chinese eatery on 5th Avenue that you might easily overlook if you’re not specifically searching for juicy har gow. (Which makes you wonder—why aren’t you?) This Park Slope location quietly offers meals you won’t find elsewhere in the area, such as delicate soup dumplings and chicken sticky rice wrapped in a lotus leaf. There are a few tables inside the compact space where you should enjoy your har gow next to a seven-year-old sipping wonton soup after a particularly tough day of second grade. If you choose to take it to go, skip thesoup dumplings, which are not easy to transport.
Wei Mei Xian
Wei Mei Xian is a Fujian-based eatery offering a few counter seats and tables, making it an ideal choice for a fast and affordable meal (and a convenient spot with a restroom if you’re exploring the Sunset Park food scene). Their pork and chive dumplings cost $3.50 for 10 pieces, featuring nearly see-through wrappers and juicy, well-seasoned fillings. Don’t miss their take on xiao long bao, which blend elements of Shanghainese soup dumplings with steamed pork buns. The meatball is wonderfully full and savory, while the broth is hearty and flavorful, similar to a rich sauce.
Old Captain’s Dumpling
This Flushing counter-service restaurant is known for its delicate, incredibly soft Shandong-style fish dumplings, a unique offering that’s tough to find elsewhere in New York City. You can observe the preparation happening just behind the counter—each dumpling is carefully crafted from a small pile of ground mackerel and chives. Go for the steamed version, and then explore other menu options, such as the pan-fried pork-and-shrimp dumplings: neatly shaped pockets with crispy, lacy edges, long chive strands, and whole pieces of shrimp inside.
Liu Liu Sheng Jian
Each visit to the New World Mall food court in Flushing should include a stop at Liu Liu Sheng Jian. This stand is known for sheng jian bao—simply pick between six or eight buns, then observe the large pans behind the counter, bubbling and rotating in hot oil with shiny bao. These Shanghai-style buns are soft and fluffy with crispy bottoms, and the inside is incredibly juicy. Enjoy them while sitting at a table, and don’t forget to stop by the sauce station on your way.
Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Noodles
The dumplings at Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen are highly popular, and for very good reasons. The crab and pork xiao long bao feature exceptionally delicate wrappers and are much more tasty than those available at more commercial locations likeJoe’s Shanghai. You can also order pork dumplings without broth in both steamed and pan-fried varieties. The area is spacious, offering plenty of seating and some interesting wall paintings, making it suitable for a relaxed date night or an affordable group meal as well as a quick individual meal.
King Dumplings
This is the kind of location you’d be glad to enter when caught in a downpour and in need of a bite of top-notch dumplings priced at $4.50 for ten. King Dumplings is a traditional Chinatown eatery that has undergone a slight renovation—specifically, graffiti-themed wall art showcasing a human-like dumpling, along with a table and several counter seats. The dumplings feature a thicker skin and are straightforward yet very enjoyable.
Sanmiwago
At the Taiwanese dumpling restaurant Sanmiwago, everything is bright, white, and has a surprisingly high-tech feel. However, there’s ample seating, and the dumplings are outstanding with extremely thin wrappers. The fillings are all straightforward and tasty, but we particularly enjoy the signature pork and chive variety. Whether steamed or pan-fried, there’s no wrong choice here, and both options are served with chili crisp and a heap of fresh herbs. One of the founders of Sanmiwago also ownsFormosain Bushwick, which offers the same excellent signature dumplings.
Tasty Dumpling
A favorite destination for a container full of fried pork and chive dumplings, Tasty Dumplings located on Mulberry Street is a no-frills, cash-only eatery. The wrappers are somewhat thick, holding up well to a deep fry that results in a wonderfully crispy outside. For just $2 per order of four dumplings, this offers one of the top food bargains in lower Manhattan. Take a seat at one of the tables offering a view of Columbus Park.
Lin & Daughters
Excellent dumplings in the West Village? Yes, we said that. Lin & Daughters is a mother-daughter owned shop featuring charming details, such as a neon lucky cat waving from one of its large windows, which illuminate the café. We enjoy this place for relaxed dates, gatherings with friends, or as a way to gauge if you actually enjoy being around your coworkers before deciding on team drinks. Lin & Daughters offers delicious, perfectly crispy pan-fried dumplings (try the curry chicken or the cumin beef), scallion pancakes filled with cream cheese, boba beverages, and some noodle dishes named after members of the Lin family, like Grandma’s Peanut Noodles.
