AYCE Dim-Sum
Order: all-you-can-eat dim sum, pork soup dumplings, shrimp cheung fun, siu mai
Soup Dumplings and Dumplings in Atlanta
The short answer: for soup dumplings (小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo) look for Shanghainese and Taiwanese restaurants; for boiled and pan-fried dumplings (饺子 jiǎozi, 锅贴 guōutiē) look for northern and Dongbei kitchens, many of which make them by hand all day. Our picks for both are below.
Best soup dumplings in Atlanta
Bao Gogo
Order: truffle and Nanxiang pork xiao long bao, Chongqing fried chicken, dry-fried eggplant
Dumpling Garden
Order: shrimp-topped siu mai, xiao long bao, cumin lamb stir-fry
Jia Szechuan
Order: made-to-order minced pork dumplings, black vinegar peanuts, dry-fried green beans
Kitchen Master
Order: crab-pork, Berkshire pork and truffle xiao long bao, shrimp siu mai, chocolate soup dumplings
Lao Wei Dao
Order: crab and pork soup dumplings, pan-fried pork dumplings, chilled chicken
Northern China Eatery
Order: Shanghai soup dumplings, pork and fennel or lamb and zucchini dumplings, frozen dumplings to go
The Dumpling Factory
Order: pan-fried pork buns, Shanghai juicy buns, pork and chive dumplings
Urban Hai
Order: whole roasted Peking duck, pork and crab xiao long bao, hot and numbing flounder
Best dumplings in Atlanta
China Kitchen
Order: Master Dumplings in sweet-spicy sauce, spicy chicken, minced pork noodles
Crazy Skewers
Order: steamed pork dumplings by the dozen, lamb skewers, potato noodle soup
Dumpling Garden
Order: shrimp-topped siu mai, xiao long bao, cumin lamb stir-fry
Dumpling Master
Order: pork and chive potstickers, pan-fried pork buns, bubble tea
Gu’s Dumplings (Krog Street Market)
Order: Zhong-style dumplings in chili oil, dan dan noodles
Gu’s Kitchen
Order: Zhong-style dumplings in sweet chili oil, Chengdu cold noodles, mapo tofu, Sichuan fries
Hai Authentic Chinese
Order: handmade Sichuan dumplings, dan dan noodles, Sichuan chili chicken
Handmade Dumplings and Noodles
Order: wood ear and tofu skin vegetarian dumplings, cumin beef noodles, dry-fried eggplant
Imix Hot Pot
Order: Chinese hot pot plus stir-fries, dumplings and noodles
Jia Szechuan
Order: made-to-order minced pork dumplings, black vinegar peanuts, dry-fried green beans
LanZhou Ramen
Order: hand-pulled beef or roast duck noodle soup, crispy pan-fried potstickers, Chinese hamburger
Lao Wei Dao
Order: crab and pork soup dumplings, pan-fried pork dumplings, chilled chicken
How to eat a soup dumpling
- Lift it gently by the top knot onto a spoon. Don't stab it.
- Bite a small hole in the side and sip the broth. It is very hot.
- Add a few slivers of ginger with black vinegar, then eat the rest.
Dumplings by type
- Soup dumplings (小笼包): pleated, steamed, filled with pork and broth.
- Boiled dumplings (水饺 shuǐjiǎo): the northern staple; pork and cabbage, pork and chive, or lamb.
- Potstickers (锅贴 guōutiē): pan-fried with a crisp bottom.
- Pan-fried soup buns (生煎包 shēngjiānbāo): thicker, crisp-bottomed Shanghai buns.
- Wontons in chili oil (红油抄手 hóngyóu chāoshǒu): the Sichuan version.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get soup dumplings in Atlanta?
Our list above names specific restaurants, mostly on Buford Highway and in Duluth.
What is the difference between soup dumplings and regular dumplings?
Soup dumplings are steamed with a gelled broth inside that melts as they cook. Regular dumplings are boiled, steamed or pan-fried with a solid filling.
Can I buy frozen handmade dumplings in Atlanta?
Some dumpling restaurants sell bags of frozen handmade dumplings to cook at home; the listing will say so, or ask at the counter.