The Chef Amazing Charts · November 2026
The Dumpling 100
The 100 best dumplings in the world, from Taipei soup dumplings to Tbilisi khinkali and Bologna tortellini: the one to order at each, the line to expect, and a recipe to make that style at home. Comfort-food season now, and a second round for Lunar New Year.
The top ten
1A photo like it
Din Tai Fung (Xinyi Road)
Get: The pork xiao long bao, 18 folds each, then the shrimp and pork shao mai
Line: Expect 30 to 60 minutes at lunch and dinner; take a number at the door and walk Yongkang Street while you wait. Beat it: weekdays before 11:30am.
2A photo like it
Jia Jia Tang Bao
Get: A basket of pork and crab tang bao, with a bowl of egg and seaweed soup
Line: A line by 8am, and the crab filling sells out by early afternoon. Beat it: go at breakfast.
3A photo like it
Mak's Noodle
Get: A small bowl of wonton noodles: four shrimp wontons on springy egg noodles in a shrimp-roe broth
Line: A short wait at lunch with the office crowd; tables are shared. Beat it: mid-afternoon.
4A photo like it
Trattoria Anna Maria
Get: Tortellini in brodo, in capon broth
Line: Book a day or two ahead for dinner; weekday lunch walk-ins are easier.
5A photo like it
Myeongdong Kyoja
Get: Kalguksu with a plate of steamed mandu, and the kimchi that's mostly garlic
Line: A line at noon, but you pay first and sit in minutes. Beat it: 2 to 5pm.
6A photo like it
Pasanauri
Get: Khinkali kalakuri (pork and beef with herbs), five to start, plus one filled with cheese
Line: No line most days; Friday and Saturday nights fill up after 8pm.
7A photo like it
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
Get: The original egg roll, shrimp har gow and the "OG" pork bun
Line: Weekend brunch waits run 30 to 60 minutes; put your name down and walk Mott Street. Beat it: weekdays at 11am.
8A photo like it
Dolma Aunty Momos
Get: A plate of steamed veg momos with the fiery red chutney
Line: Crowds after 5pm and on weekends, but it's standing room and moves fast. Beat it: a weekday afternoon.
9A photo like it
Yang's Fried Dumplings
Get: Four shengjian bao, crisp bottoms, sesame and scallion on top; bite a hole and sip first
Line: A queue at breakfast and lunch, but a pan comes off every few minutes. Beat it: mid-afternoon.
10A photo like it
Utsunomiya Minmin (main shop)
Get: Yaki gyoza (pan-fried), sui gyoza (boiled) and age gyoza (deep-fried), one plate of each
Line: Expect 30 to 60 minutes on weekends. Beat it: opening time on a weekday.
11 to 25
11A photo like it
Lung King Heen
Get: Har gow with whole prawns, the steamed lobster and scallop dumpling, and the baked abalone puff
12A photo like it
Hangzhou Xiaolongbao
Get: Xiao long bao and the crab roe ones, at a third of the famous places' price
13A photo like it
Long Chao Shou
Get: Hongyou chao shou: pork wontons in chili oil, black vinegar and sesame
14A photo like it
Chao Chao Gyoza
Get: The original pork gyoza and the cheese and shiso gyoza, with their lacy crisp skirt
15A photo like it
One Dim Sum
Get: Har gow, siu mai and the steamed beef balls, ticked off on the paper menu
17A photo like it
Trattoria della Posta
Get: Agnolotti del plin, hand-pinched, tossed in butter or roast juices
18A photo like it
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
Get: Crab and pork xiao long bao, and the pan-fried pork buns
20A photo like it
Tim Ho Wan (Sham Shui Po)
Get: Baked barbecue pork buns with crackly sugar tops, and the steamed rice rolls
22A photo like it
Taotaoju
Get: Har gow, chicken feet in black bean and the egg tarts, with chrysanthemum tea
24
A. Wong
Get: The dim sum lunch: the Shanghai steamed dumpling with ginger "vinegar caviar" and the pork siu mai with crackling
26 to 50
28A photo like it
Duyichu
Get: Pork and leek shaomai, Beijing style, open-topped and frilled like a flower
31A photo like it
Royal China (Baker Street)
Get: Har gow, char siu cheung fun and the baked pork puffs
32A photo like it
Gaeseong Mandu Koong
Get: Joraengi tteokguk (rice cake soup) with Gaeseong-style mandu
34A photo like it
Yangling Tibetan Restaurant
Get: Buff momos, steamed and fried, with the ginger tomato dip
36A photo like it
Pierożki u Vincenta
Get: Ruskie (potato and farmer's cheese) and a mixed plate with one sweet
37A photo like it
Swee Choon Tim Sum
Get: Mee sua kueh (crisp fried noodle cake), xiao long bao and the red bean pancake
38A photo like it
Harajuku Gyoza-ro
Get: Yaki gyoza with garlic and chives, boiled sui gyoza, and a beer
40A photo like it
Ishimatsu Gyoza
Get: Hamamatsu gyoza: a circle of them pan-fried, with bean sprouts in the middle
44A photo like it
Da Hu Chun
Get: Shengjian bao in the old full-fermented style: fluffy, crisp and less soupy
45A photo like it
Prosperity Dumpling
Get: Fried pork and chive dumplings, five for a few dollars, and a sesame pancake
50A photo like it
De Fa Chang
Get: The dumpling banquet: a parade of shapes and fillings, each folded to look like what's inside
51 to 100
51A photo like it
Nanxiang Mantou Dian
Get: Crab and pork xiao long bao from the upstairs dining room (skip the takeaway window)
52A photo like it
Bodrum Mantı & Cafe
Get: Crispy Bodrum-style mantı with garlic yogurt and red pepper butter
54A photo like it
Hui Tou Xiang
Get: Hui tou (open-ended potstickers) and the pork and crab soup dumplings
58A photo like it
Pierogarnia na Bednarskiej
Get: Ruskie, meat pierogi with fried onion, and blueberry ones in season
65A photo like it
Maxim's Palace (City Hall)
Get: Siu mai and har gow straight off the trolley, with the harbor in the window
67A photo like it
Raviolis Chinois Nord-Est
Get: Boiled pork and chive raviolis, and a plate pan-fried
68A photo like it
Hakkasan (Hanway Place)
Get: The dim sum platter: scallop shumai, har gow and Chinese chive dumplings
80A photo like it
Yuanbao Jiaozi
Get: Boiled pork and dill or lamb jiaozi, made to order, on a plate or in soup
85A photo like it
Pictograma
Get: Classic pork and beef khinkali, eaten by hand, top-knot left on the plate
88A photo like it
Domowe Przysmaki
Get: The fruit pierogi (strawberry or plum in season) after a plate of ruskie
96A photo like it
Paradise Dynasty
Get: The eight-flavor xiao long bao (truffle, cheese, garlic, ginseng, foie gras...)
97A photo like it
Thamel Momo Hut
Get: A sampler of jhol, kothey (half-fried) and chili momos with four dips
How Chef picks
Dumplings you'd cross a city for, ranked by how good the one dumpling is, how consistent the rest of the menu is, and whether people still wait for it. One to order at each, so you never stare at a 60-item menu, plus the line to expect and how to beat it. Every place was checked open in November 2026. A new chart every month: places move up, come on and fall off.
More to eat
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place's page; "a photo like it" is the same style of dumpling, not from that place. Chef Amazing is not paid by any place on this chart.
Chef Amazing remembers every place you ate, keeps the lists friends send you, and helps you cook it at home.
Our founder's story · For chefs and food creators · Privacy · Terms