The Ultimate Guide to the Best Dumplings in NYC

Last Updated on February 14, 2024 | 0 Comments
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Dumplings in NYC

Wondering where you can track down the best dumplings in NYC? 

Nowhere except New York can you find pierogi, gnudi, gyoza, xiao long bao and more as good as you’ll find in their country of origin. But in the endless gourmand paradise that is New York City, it can be hard to know which places are worth the visit. 

That’s why we’ve written this ultimate guide to the best dumplings in NYC with details on exactly where to find them.

Here’s where to get the best dumplings in NYC:

 

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1. White Bear

When looking for the best dumplings in NYC, it's easy to get overwhelmed. You may opt for a food tour in NYC to sample several, or you may take to research to find the best spot in town. Either way, your first stop should be White Bear. The menu boasts over 30 items, but don't let the options overwhelm you; what you're after is the “Number 6,” as it's commonly known inside this tiny restaurant.

The “Number 6” is a dozen silky and tender pork-stuffed wontons that are excellent on their own, but reach a whole new level of greatness when smothered in house-made chili oil. 

They also come garnished with a smattering of pickled vegetables, contrasting beautifully with the rich pork. Undoubtedly, these are perhaps Queens’ most talked about dumplings and some of the best dumplings in NYC.

White Bear | 135-02 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, NY 11354 | $

white bear nyc
via The Infatuation

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2. The Bao

Soup dumplings in NYC abound. But The Bao — a modern and budget-friendly Chinese spot in the East Village — is known for serving up some of the best soup dumplings in NYC. 

At The Bao, the classic pork soup dumplings, or xiao long bao, are what many people believe to be perfect. The menu calls this achievement “kung fu,” using the term in its original sense, as mastery acquired through practice and discipline. 

While other specimens in town tend to be thicker to prevent leaks, the dough here is ultrathin, yet still sturdy enough to successfully contain a flavor-packed soup filling flecked with tender pieces of minced pork. This winning combination is what makes these some of the best dumplings in NYC.

The Bao | 13 St. Mark’s Pl., New York, NY 10003 | $$

the bao ny
via The Bao NY

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3. Xi’an Famous Foods

Xi’an Famous Foods fully embraces the traditional cuisine of Xi’an and has multiple locations across Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. The eatery might be best known for its hand-pulled noodles, but its lamb dumplings deserve just as much of the spotlight.

The lamb dumplings at Xi’an's aren’t your average dim sum plate. These substantial shuijiao (boiled dumplings) are made with the same delightfully chewy dough that the eatery uses in its signature hand-ripped noodles. 

They’re bigger than most, stuffed with spicy lamb meatballs and served in a pool of sweet and sour sauce. Xi’an Famous Foods certainly earns a ranking as some of the best dumplings in NYC.

Xi’an Famous Foods | Multiple Locations | $

Xi’an Famous Foods serves some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Xi’an Famous Foods

4. Mimi Cheng’s

Mimi Cheng's, a sister-owned, scratch-made Taiwanese dumpling house, is filled with Instagram-friendly vibes. They proudly stuff each pocket with high-quality meat and produce hailing from small, sustainable family farms from Upstate New York. 

Signature flavors like the pasture-raised heritage pork and chive as well as the mighty veggie are some of the best dumplings in NYC and are available year-round. They also offer out-of-the-box specials, like cacio e pepe or buffalo chicken, which change each month. 

When in doubt, order the 50/50, which includes two signature flavors of your choice.

Mimi Cheng’s | Multiple Locations | $$

mimi cheng's dumplings
via Mimi Cheng's Dumplings

5. Dumpling Galaxy

There are 100 distinct varieties of dumplings offered at this Flushing mainstay, and while their lamb soup dumplings are certainly some of the best dumplings in NYC, be sure to save room for dessert.

Dumpling Galaxy’s pumpkin with black sesame tang yuan are some of the best dumplings in NYC and a prime example of sweet flavors working just as well as savory ones in a dumpling. The dough for these dumplings is enriched with milk and flavored with pumpkin, then stuffed with nutty black sesame paste and set adrift in a mildly sweet broth similar to egg drop soup. 

Dumpling Galaxy | 42-35 Main St., Flushing, NY 11355 | $$

dumpling galaxy serves some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Dumpling Galaxy

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6. Nom Wah Tea Parlor

Established in 1920, Nom Wah Tea Parlor is the oldest dim sum haunt in New York City and a go-to for dumplings in Chinatown. Nom Wah has all the classics, like siu mai and xiao long bao, but there’s one dumpling on the menu that’s known as one of the best dumplings in NYC.

The refreshingly shrimp and snow pea leaf dumplings are the real knockout at Nom Wah Tea Parlor. These steamed dumplings are served open-faced and hold plump shrimp and snow pea leaves in translucent, nearly melt-in-your-mouth, wrappers.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor | 13 Doyers St., New York, NY 10013 | $

nom wah tea parlor
via Nom Wah Tea Parlor

7. Lilia

When Lilia opened in Williamsburg, has earned its stripes as one of the city’s best places for pasta. And the agnolotti served up at this special occasion spot earns high marks for serving up some of the best dumplings in NYC.

The agnolotti at Lilia’s are a take on cheese ravioli that elevates the classic pasta dish to new heights. These elegant dough packets, loosely inspired by Sardinian cuisine, are filled with a mild, creamy sheep’s milk cheese and coated in a saffron-infused sauce finished with honey and chiles, yielding a perfumed sweetness that’s both cut and amplified by snippets of sun-dried tomato.

Lilia | 567 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211 | $$$

lilia serves some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Lilia

8. Tim Ho Wan

The world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant — Tim Ho Wan — suddenly arrived in the East Village in late 2016, serving the greatest dim sum hits of the Hong Kong original to the NYC masses, which includes some of the best dumplings in NYC.

With dozens of dim sum plates available, there’s no wrong choice, but the delicate and perfectly constructed har gow, as well as steamed dumplings with shrimp and chives, are some of the best dumplings in NYC.

Tim Ho Wan | Multiple Locations | $$

tim ho wan in nyc
via Tim Ho Wan

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9. Dim Sum Go Go

Dumplings are the name of the game at this wildly popular, no-frills dim sum joint serving up authentic Cantonese fare in Chinatown and some of the best dumplings in NYC.

With so many great options at Dim Sum Go Go, you’ll want to avoid tough decisions and order the dim sum platter — an artful array of 10 of the best dumplings in NYC wrapped in house-made crystal skin or wheat flour wrappers and filled with everything from pork and shrimp to roast duck and wood ear mushrooms.

Dim Sum Go Go | 5 E. Broadway, New York, NY 10038 | $$

dim sum go go has some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Dim Sum Go Go

10. Momosan Ramen & Sake

Momosan Ramen & Sake, Masaharu Morimoto’s casual ramen spot, may have initially drawn in the crowds for its comforting noodle soups, but the pork gyoza quickly became a crowd-pleaser, now known as some of the best dumplings in NYC.

The famous Iron Chef crams these top-notch dumplings with juicy pork and fragrant chives and serves them in the iron pan they’re cooked in, tetsunabe style, along with a side of enlivening ginger-scallion sauce.

Momosan Ramen & Sake | 342 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10016 | $$

momosan ramen & sake
via Momosan Ramen & Sake

11. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao

After a short closure in 2019, this soup-dumpling powerhouse in Queens kicked off a new era with a larger dining room and expanded menu.

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao offers 11 varieties of, well, xiao long bao. You can choose from the colorful Lucky Six sampler with indulgent add-ins like abalone — but the original xiao long bao is the uncontested signature dish here and some of the best dumplings in NYC.

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao | 39-16 Prince St. #104, Queens, NY 11354 | $

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao dumplings
via Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao

12. Hao Noodle

Hao Noodle has two locations (West Village and Chelsea) and is most popular for their house-made noodles. But unbeknownst to many is that Hao Noodle also has some of the best dumplings in NYC on their menu.

And those dumplings are the siu mai. Sticky black rice, bacon and shiitake mushroom are cinched in a round of dough and steamed until filling and wrapper become one, effecting an almost mochi-like texture. If your experience with siu mai is limited to Cantonese dim sum, this Jiangnan version will be a revelation.

Hao Noodle | Multiple Locations | $$

hao noodle makes some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Hao Noodle

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13. Sarge’s Deli

Sarge’s offers the true New York deli experience and is a favorite for so many old-world specialties, including kreplach. 

The fried kreplach at Sarge’s Deli certainly deserve the title of one the best dumplings in NYC. These pockets of finely minced beef are riddled with sweet caramelized onions — a defining flavor of the Ashkenazi kitchen. Order them fried to a puffy-skinned crisp and showered with more fried onions.

Sarge’s Deli | Multiple Locations | $$

sarge's deli serves some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Sarge's Deli

14. Noodle Village

Noodle Village might have the best wonton soup you can get in NYC. And wontons are certainly dumplings. Therefore, Noodle Village has some of the best dumplings in NYC.

This Chinatown noodle house folds a whole piece of shrimp into each Hong Kong-style pork wonton. Floating together with springy yellow egg noodles, the wontons form a delicious vessel for soaking up the sweet chicken broth.

Noodle Village | 13 Mott St., New York, NY 10013 | $

noodle village in nyc
via The Infatuation

15. Shu Jiao Fu Zhou

No dumpling crawl would be complete without a visit to Shu Jiao Fu Zhou. Insiders flock to this bare-bones eatery for some of the best dumplings in NYC. 

This restaurant is popular amongst the city’s large immigrant population from China’s southeastern Fujian province. Namely, for its signature pork and chive dumplings. For a mere $2, you can get six perfectly steamed pork and chive dumplings. For $3, you can have 10.

Shu Jiao Fu Zhou | 118 Eldridge St., New York, NY 10002 | $

Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
via Ruth Tobias/Thrillist

16. Joe’s Shanghai

Joe’s Shanghai has been serving some of the best dumplings in NYC since 1995, and also makes the list of the best dim sum in Chinatown, NYC. Diners here are greeted with menus and a dish of black vinegar dipping sauce, as it’s practically a given that you’ll be ordering their famous pork and crab soup dumplings here. 

The pork and crab selection are some of the best soup dumplings in NYC, with a cultish following among locals and tourists alike — and you'll find it's worth waiting in line for a table in the simply adorned space. If you snag a seat, order several rounds, as the signature dumplings really do outshine the rest.

Joe’s Shanghai | Multiple Locations | $$

joe's shanghai dumplings
via Joe's Shanghai

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17. Vanessa’s Dumpling House

Vanessa’s Dumpling House started in Chinatown as a hole in the wall churning out some of the best dumplings in NYC. Now, more than 20 years later, Vanessa’s has several locations and is one of the most popular dumpling houses around. 

At Vanessa’s Dumpling House, everything is cooked before your eyes and nothing costs more than $6. The best of the menu’s many options is the pan-fried chive and pork dumplings, which you may want three or four times over as they are some of the best dumplings in NYC.

Vanessa’s Dumpling House | Multiple Locations | $

vanessa's dumpling house serves some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Vanessa's Dumpling House

18. Kings Co Imperial

Kings Co Imperial has a modern, incredibly satisfying approach to classic Chinese cooking with excellent takes on everything, including dumplings. 

The wok-seared long dumplings at Kings Co Imperial are some of the best dumplings in NYC. They’re crispy on the outside, with thicker, chewy skins, and a flavor-packed garlicky pork filling. Plus, there’s the satisfaction of needing three bites to get through one dumpling.

Kings Co Imperial | Multiple Locations | $$

kings county imperial dumplings
via Kings Co Imperial

19. Veselka

There are plenty of old-school cafés serving up hearty Eastern European fare in the East Village, but none are quite as popular as Veselka — a 24-hour institution known for their handmade pierogi which are lauded as some of the best dumplings in NYC.

Veselka offers several varieties of pierogi — potato, cheese, meat, sauerkraut and mushroom, spinach, and even arugula and goat cheese — which can come either steamed or fried. The end-of-the-night (or hungover morning) move is the classic potato, fried. The thick, semicircular dumplings are some of the best dumplings in NYC — crisp and buttery on the outside, hearty and fluffy on the inside.

Veselka | 144 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10003 | $$

veselka serves some of the best dumplings in nyc
via Veselka

20. Tasty Dumpling

Tasty Dumpling is one of the best-known standalone specialty dumpling shops remaining in Chinatown. In keeping with its name, the potstickers at this dumpling house are some of the tastiest and best dumplings in NYC.

The options come with different fillings, served five to an order. But, the pork and chive is the eatery's most popular. The dumplings here are made Beijing-style; thick and perfectly suited to both pan-frying and boiling.

Tasty Dumpling | 42 Mulberry St., New York, NY 10013 | $

tasty dumpling
via Tasty Dumpling

For those who know where to look, NYC is home to some of the best dumplings in the world. By using this guide to the best dumplings in NYC or by trailing a knowledgeable local guide on food tours in NYC, you’ll be well on your way to finding the best dumplings in NYC!

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