First Look: St. Louis Soup Dumplings in University City

St. Louis is home to dozens of Chinese restaurants, and this week, one more will join the ranks when St. Louis Soup Dumplings opens Friday, Sept. 22, at 8110 Olive Blvd., in University City.

The restaurant is the brainchild of Lawrence Chen and his wife, Emily Yang, who own Private Kitchen, located just two doors down at 8106 Olive Blvd.

As The Scoop reported in March, Chen said the inspiration for the new restaurant came from the popularity of the pork and crab soup dumplings served at Private Kitchen.

Those dumplings will now be available at St. Louis Soup Dumplings, along with fish, chicken, beef and shrimp and mozzarella versions. Chen said other fillings would likely be added in the future, including a veggie option.

A small selection of cold items, including salads, will be available in a refrigerated grab-and-go case near the counter, but Chen’s focus is squarely on the soup dumplings.

The minimalist interior has undergone extensive renovations and retains no hint of its former incarnation as a cell phone store. The space seats approximately 30 and features light wood, neutral colors and light fixtures resembling bamboo lanterns.

St. Louis Soup Dumplings will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Here’s a first look at what to expect from St. Louis’ first soup dumpling shop:

Matt Sorrell is staff writer at Sauce Magazine.