Chinese Dumplings Near Me: 7 Different Dumpling Types

There's no doubt about it: dumplings are a type of comfort food that never disappoints to leave you satisfied and full.

China has been enjoying filled dumplings called jiaozi for over 1,800 years. And today, people from all around the world get to enjoy unique variations of dumpling types too!

Whether you grew up eating Chinese dumplings or you want to try something new, you can't go wrong here. When eating "Chinese dumplings near me," there are tons of varieties to try.

Interested in hearing more? Then read on. We'll show you 7 of the best Chinese dumplings to bite, slurp, and munch on.

1. Potstickers

Potstickers are a type of traditional pan-fried Chinese dumpling. They tend to be made in a crescent moon shape, and often packed with ingredients like chicken, mushroom, pork, shrimp, and ginger.

To make these, oil up a pan and pan-fry the potstickers on their sides so they turn golden brown. Then, fill the pan with some water, put a lid on, and steam them for a little bit. Once they're cooked (and the water has evaporated), take the lid off and briefly pan-fry for a few minutes to finish crisping up the potstickers.

While you can eat these on their own, most people enjoy potstickers with a side of sauce like soy, vinegar, or chili oil. So make sure you try those out too!

2. Boiled Dumplings 

When you think of dumplings, the picture you conjure is probably boiled dumplings. These look like potstickers but instead of being fried, they're cooked in boiling water. They're filled with ingredients like pork, onion, cabbage, and ginger.

Once they're cooked, you can eat them either on their own or dipped in soy sauce or vinegar. Or you can even add them to soup, along with some noodles to make it an ever fuller meal.

3. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)

Xiao long bao is a type of rounded and steamed dumpling that has "soup" inside . If you've been to dim sum before, then you might be familiar with xiao long bao. These are typically made with minced pork, although you'll often find other ingredients as well!

To eat a xiao long bao, first place one in your soup spoon. Be careful not to puncture it while transferring the bao from the steamer to your spoon, as you'll lose all the brothy goodness.

Take a small bite in the top or side, and then either drink the broth from the soup spoon or slurp it up from inside the dumpling skin. You can then proceed to eat the rest of the dumpling in small bites to savor its flavor.

4. Sheng Jian Bao (Pan-Fried Soup Dumplings)

These are similar to xiao long bao (usually filled with ground pork), but with some key differences from their steamed cousins. Instead of being cooked in a steamer, sheng jian bao are pan-fried to crispy perfection. Also, they have a doughy wrapper made of yeast rather than the thinner wrappers used in most other dumplings.

Cooking sheng jian bao is much like the method for cooking potstickers. Basically, you'll follow the same steps to cook these dumplings thoroughly and still get a crispy texture.

In Shanghai, sheng jian bao is enjoyed for breakfast, so this Chinese dumpling might be a good one to start your day off with. You might also want to eat it with some black vinegar dipping sauce for a delicious acidic kick!

5. Wontons

Wontons are one of the most famous types of Asian dumplings out there. It's a very versatile dumpling that can be eaten with soup noodles or on its own with some chili-crisp! 

These are usually wrapped with special thin wheat skins and are filled with vegetables and either meat or seafood. People sometimes like to eat it in a clear broth, along with some strips of Napa cabbage or bok choy, as well as green onions.

In addition, fried wontons have become immensely popular in Western cuisine. Traditionally, they'd be filled with the same ingredients as boiled ones. But Americanized wontons are stuffed with cream cheese and deep-fried to cater to the westernized palate!

6. Har Gow 

Here's another dumpling you might be familiar with if you go eat dim sum frequently. This is a dumpling that has a translucent tapioca flour wrapper that's filled with shrimp, bamboo, and grated ginger.

While you can eat it with soy sauce, some prefer to eat har gow plain to get the fresh light taste of the dumpling and all of the shrimpy filling.

7. Shumai 

Often, you can't have har gow without shumai! This dumpling is unique in that it's basically an open dumpling. The wrapper is in a cylindrical shape, generally filled with ground pork, shrimp, and mushroom, and topped with fish egg, shredded carrots, and/or peas.

Shumai is usually steamed, but it also can be served deep-fried. It's also typically eaten on its own with no dipping sauce, as it's already quite flavorful and savory. 

Eat "Chinese Dumplings Near Me"

Have the above dishes inspired you and you now want to eat "Chinese dumplings near me?" Then you're in luck!

Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ) is here to provide you with some of the freshest and tastiest dumplings you'll ever find. We make all our dumplings fresh in Seattle and then they're shipped right to your door. You can trust that your dumplings will be as fresh as possible since we make them each morning in our Seattle kitchen. 

So get started on snacking on some tasty dumplings. Your taste buds will thank you!