If a restaurant has a large, cross-cultural menu (think Cheesecake Factory or just about any Asian American restaurant) chances are it has at least one dumpling on it. Potstickers are a perennial favorite. But the world of Asian dumplings is much more diverse than these menu staples would suggest. Gyoza, shumai, momo, xiaolong bao — each as delicious as they are different.
For the best dumplings, I usually travel out of the Boulder Bubble to Emperor’s Palace in Broomfield (6700 W 120th Ave.) for dim sum, which, it goes without saying, includes dumplings of every conceivable size, shape and filling.
While that will always be my favorite (I dream of the fried shrimp balls), so many dumpling shops have popped up lately that can sate my cravings closer to home. Here are the best:
Nana’s Dim Sum and Dumplings
1125 13th St.
If any place can make me question my allegiance to Emperor’s Palace, it’s Nana’s. Shumai, shaomai, red sea chili wontons, soup dumplings, shrimp dumplings, thumblings and traditional steamed or pan-fried dumplings in a number of flavors (veggie, shrimp and pork, chive and pork, chicken and corn, beef and cheese) — each one packed full and sealed tight.
The Boulder outpost of this Denver eatery is legit and open late: 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. It almost makes Boulder feel like a real city.
Mason’s Dumpling Shop
3060 Pearl St. Unit 112
The pan-fried (pork, chicken beef, fish and chive) and soup dumplings (steamed crab, vegan, boiled cabbage, chive and fish) are equally delicious. Do not miss the seaweed salad; get a mound of it for only $8.
Chiri’s Momo Delight
Food cart on the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall
Open seven days a week (weather-dependent) from March to December, Chiri’s welcomes hungry passersby beginning at 11 a.m. until they are sold out, owner Sanjay Nazir says.
Authentic, handmade Nepali dumplings (beef, chicken, vegetarian) are steamed and served with tomato chutney. Chiri’s also offers vegan “beef” and “chicken” dumplings.
Gurkhas Dumplings & Curry House
2525 Arapahoe Ave. Unit H5B
A side of the spicy momo dipping sauce is a must with an order of the regular dumplings, and it greatly enhances the already-delicious broth of the soupy johl momo. The chili momo were saucy and tasty enough to stand on their own.
Dumplings aren’t the main draw, but still worth ordering at:
Flower Pepper
2655 Broadway
I literally licked the takeout container to lap up the last of the new sichuan spicy wontons. But the xiaolong bao (soup dumplings) and boiled, handmade dumplings in a variety of flavors (pork and leek, chicken and shitake, chinese leek and egg, pork and cabbage) weren’t bad, either.
Sherpa Kitchen
5290 Arapahoe Ave. B
Try the tandoori momo: fried, tossed in a marinade, skewered and grilled. They are absolutely packed with filling (chicken or veggie) and served with a yogurt-y sauce that cuts nicely through the spice. Sherpa also has chili, johl and steamed momo served with a side of house-made chutney.
They do dumplings, too
Boulder’s Dushanbe Teahouse does a dim sum tea twice a month on weekends. Drink oolong blends and sample house-made dumplings and other delicacies. Extremely popular, reservations can be made two months in advance: boulderteahouse.com/dim-sum-teatime