I accidentally built a dumpling tour of Baltimore

Somewhere between writing about matcha and scouting new Asian restaurants, I realized I had accidentally built a dumpling itinerary.

It wasn’t intentional — I just kept ordering them in many different flavors: Spanish oxtail in Fells, chili oil in Charles Village, bottomless dim sum in Canton, old-school sour beef in Essex.

As I started exploring, I realized some of the best dumplings weren’t where you’d expect to find them. Different cuisines. Different neighborhoods.

Same conclusion: Baltimore is very good at dumplings.

So, naturally, I made you a list.

Josefina

• 1409 Point St., Baltimore

Josefina is brand new — and already one of the best restaurants in Baltimore. Opened in late December, the space glows with warm lighting, high ceilings and stunning work by local artist Kelly Walker, giving it the feel of a restaurant where you make reservations weeks ahead in a larger metropolitan city. The Rabo de Toro dumplings are my favorite bite in the city: delicate dumplings stuffed with savory oxtail and a sous vide egg yolk that melts into the filling, topped with truffle caviar for an extra layer of richness. They’re decadent without feeling unapproachable — rich, balanced and gone in two bites. Order more than one.

Lao Sze Chuan

• 3224 St. Paul St., Baltimore

If you sit down at Lao Sze Chuan and skip the dumplings, you’re doing it wrong. The red oil pork dumplings arrive glossy and spicy, with minced shrimp and green onions. The black truffle pork soup dumplings have a fragrant broth with real depth. The pork and shrimp siu mai and crystal shrimp dumplings are classic, satisfying and hard to stop eating. I’ve written before about the Szechuan-roasted European sea bass, but you can’t call your meal complete without ordering at least a few dumpling varieties. It’s also one of the rare places where ordering takeout doesn’t feel like a downgrade — the quality holds.

Schultz’s Crab House

• 1732 Old Eastern Ave., Essex

Not all dumplings arrive in bamboo steamers. Sour beef and dumplings — rooted in German sauerbraten — features beef marinated for days in vinegar, onions and spices, simmered into a tangy-sweet gravy thickened with gingersnaps and served with dense potato dumplings designed to soak it all up. Established in 1969 and best known for crab cakes, Schultz’s serves this regional comfort classic on Sundays and Wednesdays in the fall and winter for $18 — and it’s one of the last places still serving this Baltimore delicacy.

NiHao

• 2322 Boston St., Baltimore

NiHao has become one of the most reliable Chinese restaurants in Baltimore since opening in 2020 under the direction of chef Peter Chang. There’s something undeniably satisfying about lifting the lid off a steamer basket and watching the cloud of steam rise before what’s inside is revealed. The pan-seared chive shrimp and pork dumplings have that ideal crisp on the bottom. The hot-chili-oil pork and shrimp wontons bring heat without overwhelming everything else. The sizzling shrimp dumplings arrive still hot from the pan, with a golden sear and a tender center. The $32 all-you-can-eat dim sum and tapas brunch (Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; tax and gratuity excluded) makes it easy to build your own dumpling tasting.

Little Donna’s

• 1812 Bank St., Baltimore

Little Donna’s pierogi are part of chef Robbie Tutlewski’s family history. He learned to make them with his grandmother from Yugoslavia, who cooked daily and made sure no one left her house hungry. Located in the former Heninger’s space — with much of that old-school charm intact — the restaurant feels rooted in Baltimore history. The pierogi are served with red chili garlic oil, sour cream and sesame seeds, with the option to add local favorite Ostrowski’s sausage and kraut. It’s a must-order at every meal here.

Nine Tailed Fox

• 3 Village Square, Baltimore

Nine Tailed Fox is where you risk filling up on dumplings before you’ve gotten to the main courses. The dim sum lineup runs deep: lamb pot stickers with cumin and cilantro, shrimp and abalone shumai and rice skin kung pao dumplings. The standout might be the dessert xiao long bao filled with chocolate ganache and salted cream — a dumpling that proves dessert belongs in the dim sum lineup. The upstairs bar is open and airy; downstairs is dark and intimate, making it just as much a contender for a date night as it is for a daytime dumpling adventure.

Dim Sum Palace

• 6600 Baltimore National Pike, Catonsville

Dim Sum Palace feels sleek, bright and modern — white tablecloths, clean lines and a minimalist dining room that keeps the focus on the food. Dumplings are made from scratch daily, and dim sum is available all day, which makes it easy to build your own spread without rushing. It provides an authentic experience with rolling carts circulating through the dining room, offering a steady rotation of dumplings and small plates. The large selection can be a little intimidating, which usually just means I end up ordering more than I planned. I’ve never regretted it.