The northern Chinese-style dumplings are a stand-out of this adorable restaurant’s lengthy menu. Served in portions of six, each dumpling is wrapped in a wheat flour-based casing that’s thick enough to give you something to chew on before you hit the flavorful center. Fillings include pork with kale, shrimp with zucchini and egg, and tofu with cabbage and carrots; preparation choices include boiled, pan-fried or deep-fried. Dip them in soy sauce or order one of the specialty sauces like ponzu, garlic or sweet chile.
Another essential order is the Chinese Hamburger (or roujiamo), a flatbread bun stuffed with stewed pork belly, diced green peppers and cilantro. This Shaanxi province specialty is one of several Chinese street foods at Dumplings & Tea that are in short supply in St. Louis. Also in that category are the tasty baozi, fluffy, steamed buns filled with pork or other fillings. Though typically eaten for breakfast in China, these are great any time of day.
137 Chesterfield Towne Center, Chesterfield, 636.778.9090, dumplingstea.com
This article appears in July 2023.
