One of Chinatown’s Best Dumpling Spots Reopens After Being Seized for Not Paying Taxes

Beloved Chinatown institution Gourmet Dumpling House (52 Beach St., Boston) was seized by the state on October 17 for not paying taxes but was open again by afternoon on the following day. The restaurant has some of the city’s best dumplings and is one of Chinatown’s best restaurants overall.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue posted a bright orange sign the width of a door in the entryway of the restaurant on October 17, indicating that Gourmet Dumpling House was “in possession of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” A tipster confirmed this with Eater, sharing a photo of the sign.

The restaurant owes $161,324, according to the Department of Revenue’s publicly searchable database of individuals and businesses who owe the state $25,000 or more.

Eater attempted to reach the restaurant for comment on October 18; however, multiple phone calls went unanswered — perhaps unsurprising as the sign posted on the restaurant’s entryway stated that “any person who attempts to tamper or interfere with this property will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Gourmet Dumpling House did not update its website to indicate the temporary closure, and it does not have official social media channels.

When a business is seized by the state for not paying taxes, it is typically afforded an opportunity to set up a reasonable payment plan in order to square its account with the state and remain in operation. If a reasonable payment plan cannot be reached, the state has the right to auction off a business’s assets to collect on the taxes owed.

Eater will update this story as more information becomes available, but for the time being, Gourmet Dumpling House, in business for a dozen years, is back up and running after the brief closure.

Update, 2 p.m.: This story has been edited to add the amount that Gourmet Dumpling House owes.

Update, 5 p.m.: Multiple sources are reporting that Gourmet Dumpling House has already reopened as of this afternoon (October 18). Eater is working to independently confirm the news; the headline and some language in the article has been updated accordingly, but stay tuned for updates.

Update, October 20, 2019: Eater has independently confirmed that the restaurant was open today (Sunday, October 20). This story and its image have been updated.

• Where to Eat Dumplings in and Around Boston [EBOS]
• Where to Eat in Boston’s Chinatown [EBOS]
• Gourmet Dumpling House in Boston’s Chinatown Neighborhood Has Been Seized by the State [BRT]
• Gourmet Dumpling House Coverage on Eater [EBOS]