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Few dishes are as ubiquitous across nearly all cuisines as the dumpling. While styles and preparations vary around the globe, the dumpling is generally defined as a casing of dough enveloping a (usually) savory filling. The foodways of China, Japan and Korea have mastered this culinary delight, with most dumpling examples featuring meat or vegetables wrapped in flour based, noodle-like wrappers which are then steamed, fried, crisped in a pan or served in soup form. The results include crispy potstickers, soup-filled xiao long bao, shu mai, steamed and meat-stuffed buns, bao-style dumplings served in tangy broth, Japanese takoyaki variant and Korean tteokbokki rice cakes. 

If you’re in Pearland or ready to visit, you’re in luck! You can find all sorts of dumplings thanks to the many restaurants in the area. Whether you’re looking to explore new forms, or simply need to satiate a hankering, this list is your guide to “all things dumpling” in Pearland. For more ideas, check out the dining page at the Visit Pearland website!

888 Chinese Bistro, 1325 Broadway: With a sprawling menu that runs the gamut from classics such as kung pao and lo mein, to more traditional Szechuan and Indo-Chinese dishes including mapo tofu and clay pot bean curd, this upscale eatery has been operating in Pearland for over 20 years. If on a dumpling quest, 888 features dumplings steamed, fried and our go-tos: the crab puff and the chicken dumplings in hot sauce. 888 accepts walk-ins and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It also delivers within a 6.9 mile radius of the restaurant, so go online to place your pickup or delivery order. 

Bonchon, 11200 Broadway: This global franchise, which originated in Korea in 2002, focuses primarily on super-crispy, double-fried, Korean-style chicken, but you can definitely knock out a dumpling fix here as well. Its tteobokki takes the cake — rice cake that is. Topped with vegetable potstickers and simmered in a spicy sauce with fish cakes and scallions, this traditional dish showcases the rice cake style of dumpling, which does not have a filling but is a textural dream with crispy edges and a medium-firm to chewy center. Be sure to check out other Korean staples while you’re there, such as bibimbap, bulgogi or the japchae glass noodle dish. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Pop in for a bite, or follow the link to place on online order for pickup or delivery.  

Pearl Dynasty, 8321 Broadway: This American-Chinese staple has been delivering consistently fresh, fast and comforting meals to Pearland residents for 25 years. The appetizer section in its vast menu is loaded with options such as crab puffs, pork and vegetable dumplings (steamed or fried) and fried wontons with pork. Drop in with the whole family for a relaxing meal, or place an order online for pickup or delivery, which is free after 5 p.m. within a three-mile radius of the restaurant.

Noodle Master, 8201 Broadway: This relatively new eatery focuses on authentic Northern Chinese dishes, including hand-pulled noodles and dumplings. With more than a dozen different dumpling dishes on offer, you will need a large group of friends or multiple visits to try them all. Come for the pillowy, steamed barbecue pork bao and xiao long bao (aka soup dumpling) filled with a rich, hot and aromatic pork broth. Stay for the house special wonton soup loaded with handmade wontons stuffed with shrimp, pork and egg in beef broth, and finish off with the unique chocolate bao dessert. Spice hounds will appreciate the numbing and fiery flavor combo present in the Mala Hot Spicy Ground Pork Dry Noodle topped with a spicy ground pork sauce, cucumber slices, green bean sprouts, shredded carrots, cilantro and scallions. Noodle Master is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for dining and online take out and delivery orders.  

Remton, 1635 East Broadway: Still in the first year of operations at its Pearland location (the original is in Webster), Remton’s refined dining experience draws influences from all of eastern Asia, showcasing Viet classics alongside dim sum favorites. Its dumpling selection includes fluffy char siu buns, prawn and pork siu mai and everyone’s favorite, xiao long bao, or soup-filled dumplings. There’s even a ramen section on the menu. Whatever you do, don’t skip the vast beverage options, including smoothies, milk teas and the venerable Cà Phê Sữa Đá, aka Vietnamese coffee served on ice with condensed milk.

Silverlake Hunan, 10223 Broadway: This restaurant, like many others on this list, showcases a blend of comforting American-Chinese dishes alongside traditional regional specialties. There are multiple versions of steamed and pan-fried dumplings available alongside the signature Crab Yummi, fried wontons filled with cream cheese and crab. The dining room is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun from noon to 9:30 pm. Place your order online for takeout, catering or delivery. 

Spicy Banda, 2110 Pearland Parkway: This Szechuan fusion restaurant is inspired by cooking styles from various regions of China. The menu showcases a variety of flavors: spicy, salty, sour, sweet, bitter, smoky, and of course the Szechuan staples of flaming hot chili and lip-numbing peppercorn. Guests should definitely check out the spicy red oil wontons and the beef pan-fried bao, a textural symphony with crispy edges that give way to the airy bun before encountering the savory beef center. Those with spice aversions need not fret as the diverse menu offers something for everyone, including hot pots, Peking duck and even ramen and curry. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for dine-in, pickup and delivery. 

Super Bowl Asian Cuisine and Teahouse, 4310 Bailey: This diner, operated by husband and wife duo Sean and Crystal Lee, highlights Chinese and Taiwanese traditions with Korean influences peppered in for good measure. Crystal works the front, while Sean uses his culinary chops to provide authentic East Asian cuisine to Pearlandians. Dumpling-wise, there’s plenty to offer, including the char siu bao, a well-loved type of dim sum filled with savory-sweet barbecue-flavored pork, Korean rice cake dumplings known as tteokbokki, as well as the spicy kimchi and pork steamed dumpling. Round out the meal with a milk tea, boba tea or the green apple smoothie. Swing by and say hi Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 4:30 to 8 p.m. for dinner.  Go online to place an order for pickup or delivery. 

Szechuan Spice, 3422 Business Center: Established in 2019 with a mission to spread traditional Chinese cuisine to current fans as well as those from China seeking a feeling of home. There’s an entire menu section dedicated to dumplings and bao, with standouts that include handmade pork and cabbage dumplings, a boiled dumpling stuffed with pork, shrimp and chives, as well as shumai and various bao. There’s so much to explore within its offerings such as the Szechuan favorite, dan dan noodles, a section of dry hot pots which are served in a small wok, kept warm over flame and filled with potato slices, lotus root, cauliflower, bell peppers and onions in addition to your choice of protein. 

Adventurous guests will geek out at rarer dishes like the cold couple’s tendon composed of beef tendon and tripe mixed with house-made Szechuan chili sauce, or the fish fillet Szechuan pickle soup. Szechuan Spice is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and  from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 

Alex Gregg