A dumpling: in simple terms, it’s dough wrapped around a filling. Yet that definition doesn’t quite explain what makes dumplings such an excellent comfort food...
...like the warmth, the savoriness, the delightful texture, whether fried or steamed, for a start. Like soups and stews, dumplings are a cozy dish we often turn to on gloomy winter days to warm us from the inside out. Check out some of our favorite dumplings around town that will bring a smile to your face even in the darkest and chilliest months of the year.
Contributed by Kelly McComas
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photo via facebook
201 West 3rd St
Modern Chinese restaurant by Chef Joe Ng & Ed Schoenfeld, RedFarm, has finally made its way from NYC to Austin. Their menu is filled with a variety dumplings, but trust us you're going to want to just try them all. The Shrimp & Snow Pea Leaf Dumplings (pictured above) are both adorably cute and one of their classic menu items that happens to be gluten-free as well. Some of their other dumplings include Five Flavor Chicken Dumplings, Crunchy Vegetable & Peanut Dumplings, Pan Fried Lamb Dumplings and Pork & Shrimp Shumai. Since this is a new hot spot, we recommend making a reservation ahead of time here.
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photo credit: Qi Austin Facebook
835 West 6th St, Unit 114
Sister to Lin's Asian Bar, Qi continues the family legacy of amazing dumplings by elevating the classic dim sum delights. Think crab or lobster dumplings ( pictured above), with as much attention paid to how they taste as to how they look. The space feels like an elevated version of the already visually stunning Lin but with cosmopolitan sensibilities. Is it pricier? Yeah, but look those lobster dumplings in the eyes and try telling them they're not worth it.
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photo credit: yelp
8557 Research Blvd Ste 110
Julie’s Noodles specializes in, as you might guess, noodles – they are hand-pulled, expertly seasoned, and truly delightful. However, just as prevalent on this Chinese cafe’s menu is their handmade dumplings, from soup dumplings to pan-fried potstickers. We recommend topping anything you order liberally with Julie’s spicy and flavorful chili oil. And if you can’t get enough of the dumplings, you can also buy them frozen to take home!
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photo credit: yelp
8650 Spicewood Springs Rd Ste 109
Fat Dragon’s extensive menu features ramen, udon, and, most importantly, handmade dumplings. Try pillowy Chinese soup dumplings, steamed pork, lamb, or chicken dumplings, and even sweet dessert dumplings here! Their happily munching fire-breathing mascot is a good indicator of how you’ll feel after ordering Fat Dragon dumplings: full, satisfied, and pleasantly spicy.
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photo credit: wu chow facebook
500 W 5th St
If you haven’t partaken in a dim sum brunch, let us introduce you to the concept: it’s a brunch featuring a variety of shareable Chinese dishes, in which dumplings usually feature prominently. Dim sum brunch usually occurs on Sundays and is best enjoyed with several friends so you can sample a bit of everything. Wu Chow is a great place for old pros and newbies alike to get together for dim sum brunch; at this Asian fusion spot, it happens every Sunday from 11am-3pm and features dozens of options from dumplings to potstickers to crispy turnip cakes and egg rolls. Try ‘em all!
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photo credit: @linasianbar instagram
1203 W 6th St
Helmed by Chef Ling, a mother and culinary expert who melds her experience from Fuzhou City and New York’s Chinatown, Lin Asian Bar blends traditional Chinese cuisine with Western influences and health-conscious ingredients. Lin’s restaurant serves a limited dim sum menu on weekdays and a full menu for Sunday dim sum brunch. Don’t leave without trying the Shanghai Soup Dumplings or xiao long bao, which is simply unforgettable steamed pockets of savory pork broth.
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photo credit: 1618 fusion facebook
1618 E. Riverside Dr.
Standing firm in a sea of great taco trucks, 1618 Fusion dishes out amazing(ly affordable) dumplings. Blending the rich traditional cuisines of Vietnam, China, Thailand, Singapore and Southeast Asia to create unique flavors in their dishes. One of their standouts has to be their dumplings. From their fried dumplings to their Dim Sum brunches, you can expect them to deliver a bite that leaves your eyes rolling back as you make that "mmhmm" noise to let the table know it's good.
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photo credit: Bao'd up facebook
Various Locations
These cute little storefronts offer the Taiwanese take on dumplings: marshmallowy steamed buns called bao stuffed with all manner of savory and sweet fillings, from pork belly and fried tofu to sweet, cheesecake-like custard for dessert. Don’t sleep on the mouth-tingling Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles, either.
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photo credit: old thousand facebook
1000 E 11th St Ste 150
Old Thousand is a Do512 staff favorite for team dinners and celebrations. We love everything we’ve tried on their flavorful, shareable menu, which certainly includes the dumplings: though the menu rotates, Old Thousand often offers wontons, shumai, steamed buns, gyoza, or some other inventive dough-and-filling dish. Shown here are the chicken chili wontons, which will make your mouth and eyes water with their umami kick.
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photo credit: sweet chive yelp
2515 E Cesar Chavez St
This casual Taiwanese-Japanese eatery offers a smorgasbord of tasty dumpling dishes made in-house. If you’re feeling fancy, opt for the Wagyu beef dumplings – and for the meatless crowd, Sweet Chive offers a good variety of vegan choices as well, like the veggie steamed dumplings and crispy scallion pancakes.
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photo credit: steamies dumplings yelp
6929 Airport Blvd
Steamies Dumplings is a family-owned company founded in 2018 right here in Austin, and they take pride in making their dumplings from scratch. You can order their dumplings hot, but what we love to do is pick up a bag of frozen dumplings and consult the super-easy tips and tricks on the Steamies blog to cook ‘em up at home! Preparing some dumplings with pals or a date makes for an excellent and filling night in. Find Steamies at their brick-and-mortar on Airport Blvd or any weekend at the Mueller, Lakeline, and Downtown farmers' markets.
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photo credit: lotus hunan yelp
3201 Bee Caves Rd #112
Anyone out in Westlake reading this can rejoice in knowing they're not as far from great dumplings as they might think. Tucked into a shopping center out along Bee Caves, The Vo family behind Lotus Hunan operates a savory sanctuary for all those in need of the classic comfort dish that is Fried Dumplings. They only come with six, so consider getting one or three more plates to fill that dumpling-shaped void in your stomach.
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photo credit: monk's mo:mo yelp
318 E 5th St
Monk’s MoMo is a food truck specializing in momos, a Himalayan street food dumpling that translates effortlessly to the streets of Austin. The next time your tummy gets to grumbling while you’re out downtown, head to Monk’s for a hot dish of pan-fried or steamed momos. We love to end a night of bar-hopping with an order of spicy pan-fried chicken momos.
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