We’ve already got you covered with mac & cheese, grilled cheese, and burgers, and now we’re sharing the best dumplings in NYC! From the moment you open the bamboo steamer basket, grab your chopsticks and bite into those fluffy dumplings with the most delicious savory hot broth, you’re in heaven. Drooling yet? (We know we are!)
According to Kungfu Kitchen (#9 on the list!), Xiao Long Bao (or what are commonly referred to as “soup dumplings”) are a “type of steamed bun (baozi) from the Jiangnan region of China, especially associated with Shanghai and Wuxi. It is traditionally prepared in a xiao long, small bamboo steaming basket, which give them their name. They are considered a kind of ‘soup dumpling’ but should not be confused with other larger varieties of tang bao.” You’ll see they’ve been fondly dubbed “XLB” on social media.
Satisfy your craving at one of these top spots, in no particular order, ASAP. Here are the best dumplings in NYC:
1. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Flushing & K-Town
This spot has been a Flushing staple, but was closed for a while as it moved to its new, over-5,000-square-foot location down the street inside inside One Fulton Square. The new menu includes this multi-colored dish of six different flavors: pork, crab meat and pork, truffle, Chinese squash, chicken, and foie gras. Plus, a glassed-in kitchen allows you to watch the dumplings being made right in front of you!
📍 38-12 Prince St., Flushing
2. Pinch Chinese, SoHo
Pinch Chinese takes more of a high-end approach to Chinese food, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less delicious! It received a Bib Gourmand Michelin Award in 2019, which highlights restaurants that “serve high quality food while making it possible to order two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (tax and gratuity not included),” according to the Michelin website. They have an extensive wine and craft cocktail list, though be prepared to wait for a table for dinner!
📍 177 Prince St.
3. Bund on Broadway, Astoria
This spot in Astoria, Queens is owned by another Queens Chinese restaurant favorite: Bund in Forest Hills. They hand-make the dough and filling every single day, and offer shrimp, crabmeat, and classic pork fillings.
📍 25-08 Broadway
4. Vegetarian Dim Sum House, Chinatown
This vegetarian and vegan dumpling joint serves just about everything you can think of, and does so deliciously! Everything here is yummy, but you have to make sure you try the mock pork buns! Plus if you show off your meal on social media, you’ll get a 10% discount!
📍 5177, 24 Pell St #1
5. Red Farm, Upper West Side
Red Farm’s main location is on the Upper West Side, but they also have a spot in the West Village now (and even one in London!). It’s helmed by dim sum master chef Joe Ng and Chinese food expert Ed Schoenfeld, who try to put a twist on modern Chinese food while also using ingredients from local greenmarkets. Their pork and crab soup dumplings are a bit larger than usual and come in their own individual steamer baskets.
📍 2170 Broadway (between 76th and 77th St.)
6. Dumpling Man, East Village
The charming staff and extravagant dumpling selection is what brings the excitement to Dumpling Man in the East Village. We suggest trying out one of their specialties they prides themselves on: the seared pork dumpling , steamed chicken dumpling, seared chicken dumpling, or steamed veggie dumpling!
📍 100 St Marks Pl #7
7. Joe’s Shanghai, Bowery
Joe’s was arguably one of the first places to bring soup dumplings to the city, originally founded in Flushing in 1995. Their other main spot was in Chinatown, but they moved to the Bowery at the end of 2019. They’ve been featured in the New York Times Restaurant Guide, Gourmet Magazine, Travel and Leisure, New York Magazine and Zagat, so you know they have some of the best dumplings in NYC!
📍 46 Bowery
8. Kung Fu Xiao Long Bao, Flushing / The Bao, East Village
The owners behind Kung Fu Xiao Long Bao in Flushing also head up The Bao on St. Mark’s Place, and both spots are known for their incredible soup dumplings in spicy and sour or with bone broth. And don’t forget, they even have Nutella soup dumplings (for dessert, of course)!
📍 59-16 Main St, Flushing (Kung Fu Xiao Long Bao) / 13 St Marks Pl, New York (The Bao)
9. Mr. Bun, Brooklyn
Brooklyn has bao too! This joint in the Bath Beach neighborhood has crab and pork soup dumplings with a light, thin dough that won’t dare break when you pick them up.
📍 2048 86th St, Brooklyn
10. Brooklyn Chop House, FiDi
If you want a different twist on traditional soup dumplings, you might want to try the delicious French Onion Soup Dumplings at Brooklyn Chop House! Just steps away from the Brooklyn Bridge, this Asian-fusion steakhouse also offers Pork Soup Dumplings and Crab Soup Dumplings–plus, since it was SO popular they actually opened up their own dedicated dumpling shop in the East Village (as an automat)!
📍 150 Nassau St.
11. Yaso Tangbao, Downtown Brooklyn
Yaso serves Shanghai street foods, specializing in some of the best dumplings in NYC! There are also locations in Industry City (Brooklyn), NoHo (Manhattan), and Jersey City.
📍 148 Lawrence St.
12. Drunken Dumpling, East Village
Want to slurp on the biggest soup dumpling in NYC? Well Drunken Dumpling has you covered—to either share with friends or keep all to yourself! It is made-to-order and takes about 15-20 minutes, and also has a limited quantity each day so make sure you get there early. They call it the “XL XLB.”
📍 137 1st Ave.
13. Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, East Village
The Brooklyn Dumpling Shop puts a modern twist on a dumpling joint, and it’s because of the dumpling dispenser machines that are made ready-to-order. Perfect for on-the-go, this automat experience is something you have to experience to totally understand!
📍 131 1st Ave.
14. Vanessa’s Dumping House, Multiple Locations
Vanessa’s Dumpling House is a small NYC-based chain of dumpling restaurants with five locations within the five boroughs. They sell handmade dumplings, buns, sesame pancakes, and noodles. Popular menu items include chive and pork dumplings or their wontons with spicy sauce, although they have plenty of styles and flavors to suit anyone’s taste!
📍 Multiple Locations
15. Deluxe Green Bo, Chinatown
Feel like you’re directly in Shanghai when you eat dumplings from Deluxe Green Bo in Chinatown! This cash-only spot is up there for some of the best dumplings in NYC, and their scallion pancakes are scrumptious too. It’s a great spot to quickly stop by for lunch!
📍 66 Bayard St.
16. Monarch, Williamsburg
This hidden Williamsburg gem showcases the flavors of Asia with a menu that takes influences from Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Thailand. Their Pan Fried Ginger Chicken Dumplings and Seared Mushroom and Edamame Dumplings are some of the most popular dishes at Monarch and are what we highly recommend ordering. These oversized dumplings are packed with flavor–you won’t want to share! Plus you can enjoy them on Monarch’s upper level outdoor terrace with Williamsburg views!
📍 146 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn
17. Congee Dim Sum House, Bowery
This recently opened spot on Bowery has dumplings galore with more than 10 different types, including favorites like pork soup dumplings, three varieties of siu mai, delicate har gow (steamed shrimp), watercress, and more. Most of the dumplings are steamed but there are a couple of pan fried options too–pork as well as chive ones!
📍 207 Bowery
18. East Wind Snack Shop, Carroll Gardens
Handmade by head chef Chris Cheung, this dumpling spot in Brooklyn is one of the better spots in the borough serving some of the best dumplings in NYC. Our favorites here are the Pan Fried Juicy Pork Dumpling and The Gwaco, so give those a try!
📍 253 Smith St, Brooklyn
19. Noodle Village, Chinatown
Noodle Village is a popular Chinese lunch spot in Chinatown that serves various noodle-based dishes, dumplings, and dumpling soup. They are well known in NYC for their Hong Kong-style pork wontons, which feature a whole shrimp inside the dumpling, served with a delicious chicken broth and yellow egg noodles. They also have an extensive menu that features popular dishes like shrimp with pork dumpling lo mein or spicy braised beef brisket ramen soup!
📍 13 Mott St.
20. La Salle Dumpling Room
You can’t go wrong with any dish on the menu here, but their soup dumplings are out of this world. They even have an entire section on their menu dedicated to plant-based dishes, so even vegans can enjoy a good meal here as well.
📍 3141 Broadway