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A hand holding up a soup dumpling on a white spoon, with a bamboo steamer of dumplings in the background. supawat bursuk/Shutterstock

11 Delightful Dumplings Around Boston

From mini juicy buns to saucy soup dumplings, Boston’s got the goods

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Dumplings, in their myriad forms and styles, are among the planet’s most-loved foods. And Boston, port city that it has always been, is no mere welterweight in the global prizefight of places to partake in the dumpling splendor. Whether it be the Yangzhou-style soup dumpling the size of your hand, or the juicy and flavorful Nepalese momos, dumplings around Boston never disappoint. Head to these 11 restaurants for must-try renditions at restaurants across the city.

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District Kitchen

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A predecessor to the xiao long bao, the lesser-known but still massively popular Yangzhou-style tang bao (literally translates to “soup dumpling”) has yet to capture the same fanfare in the U.S. But if you’re desperate to try one, head to District Kitchen in Malden, a rare local purveyor of this type of soup dumpling. The restaurant also serves a variety of other interesting (and attractive) dumplings, including cuttlefish, pork, and chive dumplings in a black cuttlefish ink wrapper and lobster, pork, and cucumber dumplings in a red wrapper.

A single giant soup dumpling fills a bamboo steamer, and metal tongs rest along the edge of the steamer.
The extra-large soup dumpling at District Kitchen.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Qingdao Garden

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Located just north of Davis Square, Qingdao has been the stalwart of homemade Northern Chinese-style dumplings since 2007. This mom-and-pop shop is still run by the Wang family, who named the restaurant after the port city of Qingdao that’s known for crisp beer and hearty dumplings. It started as a tiny restaurant with only four tables but a 2010 expansion allowed for more indoor dining. All dumplings are made from scratch; a number of Chinese-style pan-fried pies filled with leeks and vegetables are offered as well.

Tasty Momo

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These Nepalese dumplings are the pride of Magoun Square. Sophie Thakali began making momos for friends but soon found herself opening a restaurant. The spicy momos are a must, but be warned: They are not for the faint of heart.

Zoe's Chinese Restaurant

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Zoe’s, a popular Somerville spot that features hefty selections of both Sichuan and Hunan cuisine, offers a variety of dumplings. From steamed juicy pork buns to spicy Sichuan dumplings with peanuts, an eater can’t go wrong.

Six soup dumplings with thick exteriors sit in a bamboo steamer basket. A white teacup with blue floral markings is visible in the background on the wooden table.
Soup dumplings at Zoe’s.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Dumpling House

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The menu at Dumpling House is packed with around a dozen different kinds of dumplings, ranging from the crispy leek pie with shrimp to Shandong-style pan-fried dumplings with pork and leek, but the star of the show is the pork soup dumpling.

Boston Soup Dumplings 烹小鲜

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This relatively new addition to Boston’s dumpling scene has already amassed a decent fanbase in Allston, thanks to its quick and casual format and Allston’s large student population. The menu features a variety of dumplings, including xiao long bao, Chengdu-style dumplings in zhong sauce, Sichuan-style wontons in chili oil, and Shanghainese wontons.

Dumpling Kingdom

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Got a Sunday night dumpling craving? No worries: Dumpling Kingdom in Allston is open late every night. The Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings are special, and the mini juicy buns with pork are also worth your dollar.

Taiwan Cafe

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Go to Taiwan Cafe for the savory, saucy, and chewy oyster pancakes; stay for the Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings. Chinatown is the city’s best food neighborhood, and these are among its best dumplings. The soup dumplings, too, are a must.

Six soup dumplings in a bamboo steamer basket with large soup spoons tucked in next to the dumplings. Several other dishes of food are visible in the background.
Soup dumplings at Taiwan Cafe.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Dumpling Daughter

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Dumpling Daughter pays homage to founder Nadia Liu Spellman’s mother, Sally Ling, of the eponymous Sally Ling’s, an upscale Chinese restaurant on Boston’s waterfront from the 1980s through the early 2000s. Dumpling Daughter is casual, though, serving a variety of dumplings, buns, scallion pancake wraps, rice bowls, and more.

Blossom Bar

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Head to Blossom Bar for an excellent cocktail, Chengdu-style dry hot chicken, dan dan noodles, and some irresistible pork dumplings in chile vinaigrette and tingling Sichuan peppercorn oil. This dish is a riff on dumplings in zhong sauce, a beloved Sichuan street food that transforms you to the bustling streets of Chengdu, its capital city. 

Closeup on a bowl of steamed dumplings in a deep red oil with chopped scallions and sesame seeds
Pork dumplings in chile vinaigrette and Sichuan peppercorn oil at Blossom Bar.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Ming Seafood Restaurant

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Cantonese spot Ming’s Seafood’s enormous dim sum selection is full of gems (don’t miss the crispy shrimp in red rice rolls), including several dumplings. Try the steamed har gow (shrimp dumplings) in cuttlefish wrappers or the Teochew-style dumplings with the crunch of peanut waiting inside. It also has superb lunch and dinner service featuring classic Cantonese fare, including an extensive salt and pepper program.

District Kitchen

A predecessor to the xiao long bao, the lesser-known but still massively popular Yangzhou-style tang bao (literally translates to “soup dumpling”) has yet to capture the same fanfare in the U.S. But if you’re desperate to try one, head to District Kitchen in Malden, a rare local purveyor of this type of soup dumpling. The restaurant also serves a variety of other interesting (and attractive) dumplings, including cuttlefish, pork, and chive dumplings in a black cuttlefish ink wrapper and lobster, pork, and cucumber dumplings in a red wrapper.

A single giant soup dumpling fills a bamboo steamer, and metal tongs rest along the edge of the steamer.
The extra-large soup dumpling at District Kitchen.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Qingdao Garden

Located just north of Davis Square, Qingdao has been the stalwart of homemade Northern Chinese-style dumplings since 2007. This mom-and-pop shop is still run by the Wang family, who named the restaurant after the port city of Qingdao that’s known for crisp beer and hearty dumplings. It started as a tiny restaurant with only four tables but a 2010 expansion allowed for more indoor dining. All dumplings are made from scratch; a number of Chinese-style pan-fried pies filled with leeks and vegetables are offered as well.

Tasty Momo

These Nepalese dumplings are the pride of Magoun Square. Sophie Thakali began making momos for friends but soon found herself opening a restaurant. The spicy momos are a must, but be warned: They are not for the faint of heart.

Zoe's Chinese Restaurant

Zoe’s, a popular Somerville spot that features hefty selections of both Sichuan and Hunan cuisine, offers a variety of dumplings. From steamed juicy pork buns to spicy Sichuan dumplings with peanuts, an eater can’t go wrong.

Six soup dumplings with thick exteriors sit in a bamboo steamer basket. A white teacup with blue floral markings is visible in the background on the wooden table.
Soup dumplings at Zoe’s.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Dumpling House

The menu at Dumpling House is packed with around a dozen different kinds of dumplings, ranging from the crispy leek pie with shrimp to Shandong-style pan-fried dumplings with pork and leek, but the star of the show is the pork soup dumpling.

Boston Soup Dumplings 烹小鲜

This relatively new addition to Boston’s dumpling scene has already amassed a decent fanbase in Allston, thanks to its quick and casual format and Allston’s large student population. The menu features a variety of dumplings, including xiao long bao, Chengdu-style dumplings in zhong sauce, Sichuan-style wontons in chili oil, and Shanghainese wontons.

Dumpling Kingdom

Got a Sunday night dumpling craving? No worries: Dumpling Kingdom in Allston is open late every night. The Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings are special, and the mini juicy buns with pork are also worth your dollar.

Taiwan Cafe

Go to Taiwan Cafe for the savory, saucy, and chewy oyster pancakes; stay for the Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings. Chinatown is the city’s best food neighborhood, and these are among its best dumplings. The soup dumplings, too, are a must.

Six soup dumplings in a bamboo steamer basket with large soup spoons tucked in next to the dumplings. Several other dishes of food are visible in the background.
Soup dumplings at Taiwan Cafe.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Dumpling Daughter

Dumpling Daughter pays homage to founder Nadia Liu Spellman’s mother, Sally Ling, of the eponymous Sally Ling’s, an upscale Chinese restaurant on Boston’s waterfront from the 1980s through the early 2000s. Dumpling Daughter is casual, though, serving a variety of dumplings, buns, scallion pancake wraps, rice bowls, and more.

Blossom Bar

Head to Blossom Bar for an excellent cocktail, Chengdu-style dry hot chicken, dan dan noodles, and some irresistible pork dumplings in chile vinaigrette and tingling Sichuan peppercorn oil. This dish is a riff on dumplings in zhong sauce, a beloved Sichuan street food that transforms you to the bustling streets of Chengdu, its capital city. 

Closeup on a bowl of steamed dumplings in a deep red oil with chopped scallions and sesame seeds
Pork dumplings in chile vinaigrette and Sichuan peppercorn oil at Blossom Bar.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Ming Seafood Restaurant

Cantonese spot Ming’s Seafood’s enormous dim sum selection is full of gems (don’t miss the crispy shrimp in red rice rolls), including several dumplings. Try the steamed har gow (shrimp dumplings) in cuttlefish wrappers or the Teochew-style dumplings with the crunch of peanut waiting inside. It also has superb lunch and dinner service featuring classic Cantonese fare, including an extensive salt and pepper program.

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