Dumplings, oh how we love thee. Bite-sized pieces of perfection, dumplings take different forms, each packing a punch and so flavoursome you’ll want to order more. Manchester is home to a number of establishments where dumplings are some of their star dishes on their menus, so we’ve rounded up the best spots in and around the city to get your mitts on some delicious dumplings.
1. Desert Island Dumplings
Taking much-loved dishes like cheeseburgers, pizza and hoisin duck and making them into dumpling form is Desert Island Dumplings’ mission. And to top things off, these fusion dumplings are also all plant-based and you probably wouldn’t even know it. Housed inside Afflecks, diners can dive into boxes of dumplings with fun fillings as well as salt and pepper hash browns and more. Plus, dumplings aren’t just reserved for lunch or dinner as Desert Island make breakfast-inspired dumplings too.
📍Desert Island Dumplings, Third floor, Afflecks, 52 Church St, M4 1PW.
2. Oh Mei
Run by Mei Pang, Oh Mei pops up at a number of food events across Greater Manchester and beyond, providing visitors with moreish, handmade and homemade dumplings to devour. You’ll find the Oh Mei stall at the likes of Stockport’s Foodie Friday, a number of Maker’s Markets including ones in West Didsbury, Cheadle and Knutsford. Offering steamed and pan fried dumplings, as well as frozen ones to cook at home, Oh Mei also won the Manchester Best Street Food Award in 2020.
📍Various markets in and around Greater Manchester.
3. Mr Su’s
Bringing their cool concept from Leeds over the Pennines to Manchester, Mr Su’s is one of the latest eateries to arrive at Circle Square serving up noodles and dumplings. Mr Su’s offers a bespoke noodle and dumpling service where you can pick and choose toppings to create your own unique meal- and it’s a perfect lunchtime spot. The menu features speciality made-on-site dumplings filled with a variety of ingredients including lamb and Chinese leaves, a tempting snack with six costing just £3.90; £7.50 for 12; and if you’re feeling particularly hungry, 18 and 24 to share with friends or simply devour by yourself, setting you back just £10.90 or £13.90 respectively. Cheap and cheerful dumplings – what more could you want?
📍Mr Su’s, Circle Square, 7 Nobel Way, M1 7FU.
4. BeeRogi
Dumplings are not only found in Asian cuisines but also Polish cuisines too. BeeRogi in the Manchester area of Denton serves Polish dumplings known as pierogi and they are absolute bites of deliciousness. Served in an array of colours, you’ll find red dumplings filled with beef, black dumplings filled with smoked cod and kimchi and yellow dumplings with millet and dill cheese, to name a few. BeeRogi also has traditional pierogis filled with potatoes and cottage cheese on the menu, alongside dishes such as beef goulash with crispy potato pancake, Polish fried sausage with onions and schabowy pork loin schnitzel with a fried egg. And you’ve of course got to chase it with a shot of vodka!
📍BeeRogi, 105 Haughton Green Rd, Denton, M34 7GR.
5. Gaijin Dumpling House
Located in Levenshulme, Gaijin Dumpling House serves up some divine dumplings. After all, it’s in the name. Alongside dishes like katsu curry, bao buns and ‘lamb on crack’ (the intrigue!), you’ll find a selection of dumplings on the menu including mushroom bao, pan fried chicken dumplings and steamed chicken and prawn wontons. Plus, if you fancy a sweeter dumpling, try their mantou dumplings (soft steamed buns) which are doused in condensed milk.
📍Gaijin Dumpling House, 948 Stockport Road, M19 3NN.
6. Pin Wei
Manchester’s Chinatown is not all dumplings but it’s a great place to start. For authentic dim sum, head to Pin Wei on Princess Street where you can order off a menu dedicated to dumplings. One of the top favourites is their Peking style pan fried minced pork dumplings so be sure to add them to your order. You’ll also find the classic siu mai alongside purple sweet potato prawn dumplings beef dumplings with ginger and spring onions and deep fried crispy wontons. Also no dim sum is without steamed custard buns. You can even enjoy three dishes for £12 with free Chinese tea.
📍Pin Wei, 28 Princess St, M1 4LB.
7. The Little Yeti
If you’ve never had a momo then you have not lived. A Nepalese dumpling, you can get hold of momos right here in Manchester as The Little Yeti in Chorlton serves these up to order. Simply choose you filling, select whether you want them steamed or fried and enjoy them served with a flavoursome Nepalese sauce on top. The Little Yeti also offers roti wraps served with Nepalese spiced fries, street food like onion bhajis, chow mein, chana masala, as well as paneer or vegan mushroom shashlick on the tandoor.
📍The Little Yeti, 495 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, M21 8AG.