Best Dumplings in NYC: 14 Spots for XLB, Dim Sum & Duck
The best dumplings in NYC aren’t one thing — they’re soup dumplings that scald your tongue, cart-pushed dim sum on a Sunday, and a whole Peking duck carved at your table. This guide covers all of it: the 14 spots we’d actually go back to for xiao long bao, dim sum, and duck across Chinatown, the East Village, Midtown, and the West Village. Start with eight crab-and-pork soup dumplings for about $14.95 at Joe’s Shanghai on Bowery, the truffle xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung near Times Square, or a $79 tableside duck at Peking Duck House on Mott Street. Cheap, fancy, old-school, or trending — here’s where to eat the best dumplings in NYC right now.
14 spots across Chinatown, the East Village, Midtown, and the West Village.
Price range: dumplings from a few dollars an order at Vanessa’s to $79+ Peking duck feasts.
Timing: most open daily, lunch through dinner; Din Tai Fung and Tim Ho Wan draw long waits, so go off-peak.
Standout pick: Joe’s Shanghai for the classic crab-and-pork soup dumpling.
The Best Dumplings in NYC: 14 Spots Worth the Trip
Joe’s Shanghai
The soup dumpling OG · 46 Bowery, Chinatown
This is where most New Yorkers had their first xiao long bao. Eight crab-and-pork soup dumplings run about $14.95 — bigger and brothier than the dainty versions elsewhere, and filling enough to be a meal on their own. Order them the second you sit down; they’re steamed to order and worth the wait. The Pell Street original moved to a roomier Bowery space in 2019, but it’s still Chinatown through and through: close tables, fast service, a menu that runs deep into Shanghainese classics. There’s a Midtown outpost (Joe’s Home of Soup Dumplings, 7 E 48th St) and a sister spot, Joe’s Ginger, a few doors down at 25 Pell.
Din Tai Fung
The global XLB juggernaut · 1633 Broadway, Midtown
The Taiwanese soup dumpling empire finally hit the East Coast in July 2024, taking over a 25,000-square-foot glass cube near Times Square. The xiao long bao are precise, thin-skinned, and relentlessly consistent — exactly what the brand built its name on. Get a mix: classic pork, the truffle-and-pork XLB, and the chocolate mochi xiao long bao for dessert. Expect a reservation scramble and a premium over Chinatown — figure $30 to $50 a person — but the quality holds. There’s a full bar, including a black sesame espresso martini built for the NYC location, and a Downtown Brooklyn outpost on the way.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
Michelin’s pick for soup dumplings · St Marks Pl (East Village), plus Chelsea, UWS, and Flushing
Nan Xiang has racked up Michelin recommendations for years, and the Flushing flagship is still where purists go. But you no longer have to trek to Queens — there are Manhattan locations in the East Village on St Marks, in Chelsea, and on the Upper West Side. The signature aged-ham-and-pork soup dumplings are the move: thin skins, a clean and deeply savory broth, made to order. If you’re bar-hopping the neighborhood, it slots neatly into an East Village night.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
NYC’s oldest dim sum room · 13 Doyers St, Chinatown
Open since 1920, Nom Wah is the oldest continuously running restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown, tucked on the bend of Doyers Street. It looks like a retro Chinese-American diner — chrome stools, red booths — and serves dim sum all day, on demand, no carts. Get the house roast pork bun, the pan-fried dumplings, and the O.G. egg roll. It’s as much a landmark as a meal, which is why there’s often a line, but the all-day, order-off-a-checklist format makes it easy for two people who just want a few plates. Amex or cash only.
Peking Duck House
Tableside Peking duck, the classic way · 28 Mott St, Chinatown (also Midtown East)
If you want the full ceremony — a whole burnished duck wheeled over and carved at the table, served with house-made pancakes, hoisin, scallions, and cucumber — this is the Chinatown standard. The duck runs around $79 and easily feeds a group. The rest of the menu covers Cantonese and Northern Chinese classics, but everyone’s here for the bird. There’s a second location in Midtown East. Come with a crew, order the duck ahead, and make a night of it.
Decoy
Peking duck feast, downstairs · 529½ Hudson St, West Village
Hidden beneath RedFarm’s West Village flagship — look for the old laundromat façade — Decoy is a 22-seat, communal-table room built around one thing: a Peking duck dinner roasted to order and carved tableside. The set feast comes with house-made pancakes and a parade of small plates, from oxtail dumplings to a duck consommé rich enough to sip like whiskey. It’s a reservation-only splurge, and the bar stays open late. One of the best West Village nights you can plan around a single dish.
Jing Fong
Banquet-hall dim sum · 202 Centre St, Chinatown (also UWS)
The closest thing left to old-school, cart-pushing, banquet-hall dim sum in Manhattan. The Chinatown room on Centre Street is smaller than the legendary Elizabeth Street space it replaced, but the dishes still taste like they came straight from the kitchen — get the steamed egg custard buns, the har gow, and the fried turnip cakes, and don’t sleep on the crispy roast duck. Carts roll on weekends; weekdays are menu-order and quieter. There’s also a smaller Upper West Side location on Amsterdam.
Golden Unicorn
Multi-floor cart dim sum since 1989 · 18 East Broadway, Chinatown
A proper Cantonese banquet hall spread over multiple floors, Golden Unicorn has been doing cart-service dim sum since 1989. Grab a seat near the kitchen for the hottest, freshest carts and load up on shrimp dumplings (har gow), siu mai, spare ribs, and egg-yolk buns. It gets busy on weekends — reservations help for groups — but the variety and the old-Chinatown energy are the whole point. Bring a crew and order widely.
Tim Ho Wan
Michelin Hong Kong dim sum · 85 Fourth Ave, East Village (also Hell’s Kitchen)
The Hong Kong chain that earned the “world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant” tag brought its dim sum to the East Village, and the baked BBQ pork buns alone justify the trip — sweet, crackly-topped, and hard to find this good outside Chinatown. Mark your picks on the paper checklist; portions are small and cheap, so order a spread. No reservations and the line is real, so go mid-afternoon or grab a bar seat if you’re solo. There’s a second location in Hell’s Kitchen.
Shanghai 21
Soup dumplings on a classic Mott St block · 21 Mott St, Chinatown
Sandwiched between Chinatown legends Wo Hop and Hop Kee, this bright-green Shanghainese spot turns out some of the most reliable xiao long bao downtown — surprisingly sturdy skins, juicy filling, clean broth. The soup dumplings are the headline, but order around them too: the spicy-sweet Sichuan-style wontons and the shredded beef with dried bean curd are both standouts. Small room, frequent line, big payoff. Bring a group so you can order wide.
Dim Sum Go Go
Made-to-order dim sum, no carts · 5 East Broadway, Chinatown
A minimalist, two-floor spot that skips the carts and makes every dim sum order fresh. The dumpling list runs well over a dozen deep, including a genuinely great vegetarian section — soybean dumplings, vegetable spring rolls — clearly marked on the menu. Meat eaters should get the roast duck spring rolls and the sliced beef with pickled ginger. Michelin- and Zagat-rated, rarely a long wait, and a solid pick if anyone in your group doesn’t eat meat.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House
The cheap-dumpling institution · 118A Eldridge St, Lower East Side (plus more)
Running since 1999, Vanessa’s is where you go when you want a pile of dumplings for almost nothing. The fried pork-and-chive dumplings come several to the order for a few bucks, and the spicy pork-and-shrimp wontons — drenched in chili-soy, topped with scallion and cilantro — are the move. Don’t skip the sesame-pancake sandwiches stuffed with roast pork or beef. There are locations on the Lower East Side, in Williamsburg, and uptown. Cheap, fast, no frills, always packed.
RedFarm
Modern, creative dim sum · 529 Hudson St, West Village (also UWS)
RedFarm takes dim sum somewhere playful and upscale: the famous Pac-Man-shaped shrimp dumplings, shrimp-and-truffle dumplings, pork-and-crab soup dumplings, and the late Ed Schoenfeld’s legendary Katz’s pastrami egg rolls. It’s pricier than Chinatown and the farmhouse room books up, but the cooking is sharp and the duck (sister restaurant Decoy lives downstairs) is excellent. A reliable choice for a date or a group that wants Chinese food with a little theater.
Hop Kee
Old-school Cantonese, open late · 21 Mott St (basement), Chinatown
A Chinatown institution since 1968 and one of the late Anthony Bourdain’s favorite under-the-radar NYC spots, Hop Kee runs deep on Cantonese classics in a no-frills basement room on the corner of Mott and Mosco. The duck and the lobster Cantonese get the most love, and the portions are built for sharing. It’s not a dim sum cart situation — it’s the place you end up after a long night when you want big plates of the real thing. See it alongside the rest of Bourdain’s picks on our Bourdain favorites guide.
Best Soup Dumplings in NYC: Xiao Long Bao, Ranked
If soup dumplings (xiao long bao) are the only thing you’re after, four spots own the conversation. Joe’s Shanghai is the classic — eight crab-and-pork XLB for about $14.95, brothy and substantial. Din Tai Fung near Times Square is the precise, consistent, reservation-heavy choice, with a truffle version worth the upcharge. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao is the Michelin-recommended pick, now with East Village, Chelsea, and UWS locations so you can skip the trip to Flushing. And Shanghai 21 on Mott Street holds its own with clean broth and sturdy skins. Start there and you can’t go wrong.
Best Dim Sum in NYC
For dim sum, it comes down to the experience you want. Carts and banquet-hall chaos? Jing Fong and Golden Unicorn are the classic Cantonese halls — go on a weekend, bring a group, get the har gow and egg-yolk buns. A living landmark? Nom Wah Tea Parlor has been at it since 1920. Michelin-pedigree buns without a Chinatown trek? Tim Ho Wan in the East Village. Made-to-order plates and a real vegetarian menu? Dim Sum Go Go on East Broadway. Most of these cluster in Chinatown, so you can easily try two in one afternoon.
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Best Peking Duck in NYC
Peking duck is a whole event, and three spots do it best across very different price points. Peking Duck House on Mott Street is the traditional Chinatown move — a whole duck (around $79) carved tableside with pancakes and hoisin. Decoy, downstairs from RedFarm in the West Village, turns it into a full multi-course feast at a 22-seat communal table. And Hop Kee is the old-school Cantonese option, where the duck shares a table with lobster Cantonese and a dozen other classics. For more upscale Chinese rooms, see our guide to the best Asian restaurants in NYC.
Cheapest Dumplings in NYC
You don’t need a reservation or a big budget to eat well. Vanessa’s Dumpling House is the gold standard — fried dumplings by the order for a few dollars and those chili-oil wontons that punch way above the price. Dim Sum Go Go keeps plates affordable and made-to-order. And even at sit-down Joe’s Shanghai, a basket of soup dumplings under $15 feeds one person comfortably. For more budget eats around the city, browse the Manhattan deals hub.
How to Find the Best Dumplings in NYC: FAQ
What’s the difference between dumplings, soup dumplings, and dim sum?
Dumplings is the broad category — anything from boiled pork-and-chive to fried potstickers. Soup dumplings (xiao long bao, or XLB) are a specific Shanghainese style filled with hot broth; try Joe’s Shanghai or Din Tai Fung. Dim sum is the Cantonese tradition of many small shared plates — dumplings, buns, rolls — usually eaten midday at spots like Jing Fong or Nom Wah.
Where are the best soup dumplings in NYC?
Joe’s Shanghai on Bowery is the classic and best value (about $14.95 for eight). Din Tai Fung near Times Square is the most polished and consistent. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao is the Michelin-recommended pick, and Shanghai 21 on Mott Street is the reliable Chinatown standby.
Where can I get the best Peking duck in NYC?
Peking Duck House on Mott Street is the traditional, tableside-carved standard at around $79 a duck. Decoy in the West Village does a more elaborate, reservation-only duck feast. For a Cantonese, late-night take, Hop Kee on Mott Street roasts a duck worth ordering.
What’s the cheapest place for dumplings in NYC?
Vanessa’s Dumpling House on the Lower East Side, hands down — fried dumplings run a few dollars an order and the spicy wontons are a steal. Dim Sum Go Go and Joe’s Shanghai also keep things affordable for a sit-down meal.
Do you need a reservation for these spots?
For most Chinatown spots, no — just expect a wait on weekends at Nom Wah, Jing Fong, and Golden Unicorn. Din Tai Fung and the Peking duck feast at Decoy do take (and strongly reward) reservations. Tim Ho Wan is walk-in only, so go off-peak.
The best dumplings in NYC are spread across Chinatown, the East Village, Midtown, and the West Village — and the only wrong move is not ordering enough. Last updated: May 2026. Deals, hours, and prices are subject to change. Confirm with the venue before visiting.
More NYC guides: Best Chinatown Restaurants · Best Asian Restaurants in NYC · East Village Happy Hour · West Village Happy Hour · Best Michelin-Star Restaurants · Manhattan Deals
Also worth a look: Dim Sum Palace runs a weekday 50%-off dim sum happy hour, Mon–Fri 3–5pm, across its NYC locations.
