How do you eat soup dumplings without spilling the broth?

Lift the dumpling gently by the top knot with chopsticks, rest it in a spoon, and take a small bite from the side to sip the broth first before eating the rest. Biting straight into a hot soup dumpling is the most common way to spill it (or burn your mouth).

What's the difference between dumplings, potstickers, and gyoza?

They're closely related dumpling styles from different regions. Chinese potstickers (jiaozi) are pan-fried on one side and steamed the rest of the way, giving a crisp bottom and soft top. Japanese gyoza are a thinner-wrapped adaptation of the same dish. "Dumplings" is the broader category covering boiled, steamed, and fried versions across cuisines.

Are frozen dumplings as good as fresh ones?

Fresh, hand-folded dumplings made to order generally have a better wrapper texture and more balanced filling than frozen ones, which can have thicker wrappers built to survive freezing. That said, well-made frozen dumplings from a dedicated dumpling shop are usually far better than a supermarket brand.

Best Dumplings Near Me: How to Find Great Dumpling Restaurants in 2026

September 24, 2026 | 6 min read

From soup dumplings to potstickers, few foods reward careful sourcing like a great dumpling. Here's what to order, how to spot a kitchen that's hand-folding them fresh, and how to find the best dumplings near you.

The Essential Dumpling Styles

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

Thin-skinned dumplings filled with pork and a rich, gelatin-based broth that liquefies when steamed. The wrapper should be delicate but strong enough to hold the soup without tearing.

Potstickers / Pan-Fried Dumplings

Pan-fried on one side for a crisp, golden bottom, then steamed the rest of the way. A good potsticker has real contrast between the crunchy base and the soft top.

Boiled Dumplings (Jiaozi)

Boiled rather than fried, with a softer, chewier wrapper — often served with a black vinegar and chili oil dipping sauce on the side.

Wontons

Thinner-wrapped and usually served in soup or with chili oil ("red oil wontons") — a good test of a kitchen's broth as much as its filling.

Dim Sum Dumplings (Har Gow, Shumai)

Steamed dumplings served dim sum-style — har gow (shrimp, translucent wrapper) and shumai (pork and shrimp, open-topped) are the two benchmark orders.

Quality Signals at Dumpling Restaurants

Hand-folded, not machine-pressed — Look for visible pleating and slightly irregular shapes, a sign dumplings are folded by hand rather than mass-produced.
A wrapper that holds together without being thick — The wrapper should be thin enough to see the filling's color but sturdy enough not to tear or leak.
Hot, flavorful broth in soup dumplings — The broth should taste seasoned and rich, not watery, when you take that first careful sip.
Fresh over frozen — Restaurants that make dumplings to order or fold them visibly in an open kitchen are usually working with fresh dough.
Busy dim sum turnover — At dim sum spots, carts or dishes moving quickly through the dining room is a sign everything is freshly steamed, not sitting.

Find the Best Dumplings Near You

Use ChooseMy.Food to find top-rated dumpling restaurants near your location instantly. A 4.4+ star dumpling spot with hundreds of reviews is usually a safe bet.

Find Dumplings Near Me

Best Cities for Dumplings in America

New York, NY: A massive dumpling scene spanning Flushing, Manhattan's Chinatown, and beyond.
San Francisco, CA: Deep-rooted dim sum and dumpling houses across the Bay Area.
Los Angeles, CA: A concentration of top-tier soup dumpling and dim sum restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley.
Chicago, IL: A strong and growing dumpling scene across the city's Chinatown and beyond.
Seattle, WA: A well-regarded dumpling and dim sum culture across the metro.