Where to Find the Best Dumplings in New York City

This blog post is all about where to find the best dumplings in New York City.

I’d consider myself a dumpling connoisseur, and quite frankly it’s disappointing that I haven’t been officially recognised for my services to dumpling testing and consuming.

You could say I’m the Michelin Star-rating equivalent in the dim sum world. Well, I’d like to be.

So with my self-appointed title of New York’s Dumpling Expert, I’ve listed below my top 7 places to find the best dumplings in New York City.

After living in New York for a year and basically living off a diet of nothing but dumplings and Diet Coke, I have tried nearly every dumpling spot in the entire city.

So rest assured, this list is the creme de la creme of the best dumplings in New York City.

If you dine at any places on this list, I can guarantee you will enjoy every last slurp.

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If you’re planning a trip to New York City, make sure to check out my 140+ page NYC travel guide eBook which you can download here to help you plan!

This blog post is all about the best dumpling spots in New York.

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The Best Dumplings in New York

Below is a list of where to find the best dumplings in New York if you’re addicted to little cushions of delight like me.

Starting with my most favourite in Manhattan, and then moving through the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.

Yes, I will travel to the end of the 7 Subway line for the best dumplings in Flushing, Queens (the true New York Chinatown).

1. Shu Jiao Fu Zhou, Chinatown, Manhattan

Address: 295 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002

Without fail, Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is the first door I walk through when I land in New York.

On my last three visits to the best city in the world, this has been my first port of call and never ceases to amaze me.

It’s become increasingly popular each time I’ve gone back thanks to some viral videos on TikTok, but we always manage to find a seat and the food is always top quality.

There aren’t many other places in the city that you’ll find 10 dumplings for $3, or a plate of peanut butter noodles for the same price. On top of that, even though they’re so cheap, they’re the best dumplings in New York City. And I’ve tasted many.

If I was to live in New York again, you can bet that I’d be having a $6 dinner here at least once per week. My favourite of all the dumpling spots in New York!

If you’re looking for the best dumplings in New York that are located in Chinatown, this is where to go.

You can also see the dumplings from Shu Jiao Fu Zhou in just about every New York vlog of mine, but adding in here below and you can find them 6 minutes into the video:

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2. White Bear, Flushing, Queens

Address: 135-02 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354

White Bear was a recent find of ours and could potentially nab the top spot on this list of best dumplings in New York if it wasn’t so far away.

We spent a day in Flushing, Queens, sampling dumplings, bao buns and peking duck to see if we could find some more dumpling favourites, and this was the stand-out by far.

A hole-in-the-wall shop front, the 12 spicy wontons from White Bear will set you back $10 and this was the best $10 I spent this entire day.

So filling, a little bit spicy and the toppings of fried onions and scallions just made it even better.

It’s a trek to get to, but will only cost you the same price as a subway from 9th Street to 14th Street, so definitely worth the $2.75 and time.

White Bear has the best dumplings in New York if you’re willing to trek out to the real Chinatown in Flushing.

RELATED blog post to read: Ultimate Guide to Exploring Queens in New York

3. Fried Dumpling, Chinatown, Manhattan

Address: 106 Mosco Street, New York, NY 10013

Fried Dumpling was a regular haunt of ours when we lived in New York on a very tight budget.

We’d walk to this hole-in-the-wall spot down a side street in Chinatown and grab our 13 dumplings for $5. Where else could you get it that cheap?!

A no-nonsense Chinese lady would hand you the box of dumplings and send you on your way with a fork.

I love this spot so much, especially for a cheap eat as 13 of these fried dumplings would fill you for the evening and was a budget-friendly midweek eat for us before we wandered Manhattan for the night.

If you’re looking for the cheapest best dumplings in New York, look no further than Fried Dumpling in Chinatown.

4. Cafe Himalaya, Lower East Side, Manhattan

Address: 78 East 1st Street, New York, NY 10009

If you came to Cafe Himalaya for only Chinese dumplings then I’m afraid to disappoint, as New York has some of the best momos (of the Nepalese dumpling variety) on the planet, and I’m about to list three places for you to try.

Compared to your typical dumplings, momos are heavier, packed full of meat and an oil-based sauce. They’re the perfect comfort food on a wet and miserable day.

One of our favourite spots to have momos in New York, is Cafe Himalaya in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

It feels almost like a university-student spot, a little rough around the edges but always hard to find a seat any night of the week.

You’ll get cheap, plentiful and super tasty dishes here and I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve dined here over the years. The momos are a must.

5. Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, Jackson Heights, Queens

Address: 74-15 Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, NY 11372

Nepali Bhanchha Ghar has only been a very recent find of ours in Queens.

We spent a day exploring Flushing and Jackson Heights on our recent trip to New York, and I’m so glad we found this spot in Jackson Heights.

Lhasa Fast Food (next on the list) was always our go-to in Jackson Heights for momos. But I think Nepali Bhanchha Ghar may now be the new favourite of our momo-type best dumplings in New York.

We had the beef momos that came in an orange soup and these are perfect for a cold winter’s day.

I can already imagine taking the train here on a miserable, cold New York day just to warm up with this bowl of comfort food.

Like a hug in a bowl.

6. Lhasa Fast Food, Jackson Heights, Queens

Address: 76-03 37th Avenue, Queens, NY 11372

Lhasa Fast Food is a quirky spot for momos in Queens and also known as a ‘secret, hidden gem’ as you won’t find the front of this restaurant on the main street in Jackson Heights.

Instead, you’ll walk through a mobile phone store, down a little corridor and stumble upon a tiny room at the back that serves some of the best momos in New York.

This is a must-visit for the location alone, but the momos are also incredible and very cheap.

7. Vanessa’s Dumpling House, Williamsburg, Brooklyn & Other Locations

Address: 310 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249

If you ask anyone where the best dumplings in New York are, they’ll probably list Vanessa’s Dumpling House. While they do serve good dumplings and are very popular, I wouldn’t say they’re my favourite.

With locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Vanessa’s has started to feel less of a local-owned find, and more of a bigger chain-store.

The fried dumplings are their specialty. But I’ve recently come to learn that I much prefer the boiled variety.

Shu Jiao Fu Zhou and White Bear solidified this for me. However, I am still partial to a fried dumpling here and there as I love Fried Dumpling in Chinatown.

I’d say Vanessa’s is a good introduction to the best dumplings in New York for tourists visiting NYC. But there are definitely better locations around the city.

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Where to Find the Best Dumplings in New York

New York City’s food scene is nothing if not diverse, and dumplings are one of the best ways to taste that diversity in a single bite.

From classic soup dumplings and pan-fried pork buns to delicate handmade wrappers filled with bold flavours, the city offers no shortage of places that truly excel.

Whether you’re wandering through Chinatown, hopping between neighbourhood favourites, or seeking out a low-key local spot, there’s always another dumpling worth trying.

What makes tracking down the best dumplings in New York City so rewarding is how accessible they are.

Some of the most memorable meals come from humble storefronts, late-night counters, or family-run kitchens where recipes have been perfected over generations.

If you’re visiting NYC or simply eating your way through the city, let this guide be a starting point rather than a finish line.

The beauty of searching for the best dumplings in New York City is that there’s always another spot to discover, another filling to try, and another reason to fall a little bit more in love with the city’s incredible food scene.

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