Seeking the best dumplings in Beijing is a challenge we were happy to accept. Ready the chopsticks.

Not to be confused with the delicate steamed variety you get at dim sum parlors, or the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) eaten in Shanghai, the specific style of Northern Chinese dumplings found in Beijing are made with a medium-thick wheat skin, and served boiled (jiaozi) or boiled and then pan-fried (guotie). How to eat them: Drag a dumpling through soy sauce and vinegar, dip it quickly in a tiny bowl of chili oil—and make your best attempt to bring the treat to your mouth without oil spots staining your shirt.

 

Baoyuan Jiaozi Wu

At Baoyuan Jiaozi Wu, Beijing’s reigning king of dumpling houses, dumplings come six to an order with no minimum. Dumpling wrappers come in the standard white, along with orange, purple, and green (they’re colored by vegetable juice), while the flavorful interiors may include crispy rice, bean sprouts, pork, cabbage, egg, chive, and mushroom.

(6 Maizidian Jie near Nongzhanguang Bei Lu, behind the Sheraton Great Wall; +86 0 10 6586 4967)

 

 Xian Lao Man Jiaozi

The Andingmen branch of Beijing mini chain Xian Lao Man is south of Andingmen metro station and a quick walk from the Lama and Confucius temples. The minimum order here is two liang (10 dumplings) of the same filling, because that’s how many fit into a steamer. The beef and green chili dumplings are exceptionally tender, with just enough kick from the spicy peppers. Other must-try varieties include the carrot, coriander, and tofu, or the pork, shrimp, and tofu.

(252 Andigmen Nei Dajie near Jiaodoukou Dong Dajie; +86 0 10 8402 5779)

 

Mr. Shi’s Dumplings

Fifteen minutes west of Xian Lao Man is Mr. Shi’s, which also has a branch in Sanlitun. A set of 12 dumplings may be divided into two types of filling, so you can try the spinach, tomato, and eggplant or the pork and fennel. Or just commit to a full plate of cheese, pork, and eggplant pan-fried dumplings and call it a night.

(Dongcheng district: 74 Baochao Hutong near Huafeng Hutong; +86 0 10 8405 0399); (Sanlitun: Xingfucun Zhonglu, Chunxiulu Holiday Inn Turn right, walk 50 meters – Big Smoke is just around the corner)

Note: Most restaurants price their dumplings by the liang (50g); the price shown on the menu is for five or six dumplings, but then there’s generally a minimum order of two or three liang. Sometimes you can order two liang of different fillings, but often you have to order two of the same.


 

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