Best Dumplings in Manhattan
The 10 best dumplings in Manhattan, Chinatown soup dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, Shanghai xiao long bao, and the new openings driving the 2026 dumpling surge.
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- 1Chinatown · $$ · 46 Bowery
Also No. 2 on Best of Chinatown → · No. 5 on Best Dim Sum in Manhattan →
Map ↗verified 7w agoA Bowery Chinatown institution opened in 1995 and credited as the spot that introduced Manhattan to the Shanghai-style soup dumpling, communal tables, brusque service, and a soup-dumpling order written on every checked-off ticket.
Because Joe's Shanghai is the Manhattan soup dumpling default, the broth inside the wrapper is rich without being greasy, the pork-and-crab variant is still one of the best XLB upgrades in the borough, and the price has barely moved.
Crab and pork soup dumplings (eight per order), plus scallion pancake.
Good to know
- What is the best dumpling in Manhattan?
- Our current #1 reflects a blend of editorial sourcing from Eater, The Infatuation, Time Out, and Grub Street, plus live community votes. The order shifts as votes come in — what is first today may not be first tomorrow.
- What are xiao long bao?
- Xiao long bao (XLB) are Shanghai-style soup dumplings — pleated thin-skin dumplings filled with hot pork broth and a meat ball that releases liquid into the wrapper during steaming. Joe's Shanghai in Chinatown is the most-cited Manhattan XLB; Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao opened a Manhattan branch with a higher pleat-count and lighter broth.
- How much do dumplings cost in Manhattan?
- A six-piece order of soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai or Shanghai Cafe is $9 to $14. Eight-piece boiled jiaozi at Vanessa's start at $4. Higher-end dumpling counters (Decoy Peking duck, Hwa Yuan Szechuan) sit at $14 to $22 per order. Most Chinatown dumpling tabs land under $25 per person.
- Where is the best soup dumpling in Manhattan?
- Joe's Shanghai on Pell Street has been the default Manhattan answer since 1995. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao's Manhattan location is the precision-pleat alternative. Shanghai Cafe Deluxe on Mott Street is the late-night go-to. The order on this page reflects votes plus editorial sourcing.
- Are there hand-pulled noodle dumplings in Manhattan?
- Yes — Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles on Doyers Street pulls noodles to order and serves several boiled and pan-fried dumpling varieties alongside the noodle soups. Several Eldridge Street shops also offer hand-folded jiaozi made on premise.
