Where to Find the Best Dumplings in Atlanta

If you’re searching for the best dumplings in Atlanta, you’re in luck. Metro Atlanta has a deep bench of spots for soup-filled xiaolongbao, pan-fried potstickers, spicy Sichuan wontons, and everything in between—from Buford Highway strip malls to polished in-town dining rooms.

Below is a practical guide to where locals go, what to order, and how to choose the right dumpling spot for your mood, budget, and part of town.

Quick Guide: Top Dumpling Spots by Area

(Note: Restaurant mix changes over time; always check current hours and menus.)

How to Navigate Atlanta’s Dumpling Scene

Before we get into specific spots, it helps to know the main styles of dumplings you’ll see around Atlanta:

• Boiled dumplings (shuijiao / jiaozi): Usually plump, juicy, and served with vinegar or chili oil.
• Pan-fried dumplings / potstickers (guotie): Crispy bottom, tender top—great starter for sharing.
• Soup dumplings (xiaolongbao): Steamed buns filled with broth and meat; eaten carefully so you don’t spill the soup.
• Wontons in chili oil or soup: Thin-skinned, silky, often served with Sichuan-style spicy sauce.
• Korean mandu: Often larger, with glass noodles, meat, and veggies inside; can be steamed, pan-fried, or deep-fried.
• Japanese gyoza: Thinner wrapper, typically pan-seared, served with light soy-vinegar dipping sauce.

Most Buford Highway restaurants (Doraville/Chamblee) focus on Chinese regional styles, while Duluth and Johns Creek add a strong Korean presence. In-town neighborhoods like Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and West Midtown mix dumplings into broader Asian menus or food halls.

Buford Highway: Atlanta’s Dumpling Powerhouse

Buford Highway is where many Atlantans go when they want serious dumplings at reasonable prices. The strip malls may look modest, but the food is often outstanding.

What to Expect on Buford Highway

• Large menus with multiple dumpling styles: steamed, pan-fried, boiled, and in soups.
• Casual, family-friendly dining—great for groups and sharing many plates.
• Strong regional variety: Northern Chinese, Sichuan, and other regional styles appear on different menus.
• Parking is usually free in front or in shared lots.

When you’re on Buford Highway, look for:

• “Dumpling,” “Noodle,” or “House” in the restaurant name for a clue that dumplings are central.
• Dumpling sections labeled “appetizer,” “snack,” or “dim sum”—some of the best plates show up there.

📝 Ordering tip: If you’re unsure, a safe starting point is:

• One pan-fried dumpling or potsticker plate,
• One boiled dumpling with pork and chive or pork and cabbage,
• One wonton in chili oil or soup to share.

In-Town & Intown-Adjacent Dumpling Favorites

If you’re staying near Downtown, Midtown, or the BeltLine, you don’t have to drive to Buford Highway to get great dumplings.

Midtown & Old Fourth Ward

These neighborhoods offer dumplings in food halls and full-service Asian restaurants, often with:

• Cleaner, modern interiors,
• Easy access from MARTA or the BeltLine,
• Good options for mixed-diet groups (dumplings plus non-Asian dishes).

Common dumpling highlights you’ll see:

• Sichuan-style pork dumplings in red chili oil
• Soup dumplings (sometimes with pork, sometimes crab + pork)
• Vegetable dumplings (mushroom, cabbage, carrot, tofu-based fillings)
• Dim sum–style items like shrimp dumplings (har gow) or shumai on some menus.

This is a strong choice if you:

• Want dumplings plus craft cocktails or local beer,
• Are meeting friends who care about atmosphere as much as food,
• Need walkable options from hotels or event venues.

Duluth, Johns Creek, and the Northeast Suburbs

If you’re in Gwinnett County or don’t mind a drive northeast, Duluth and Johns Creek have become destinations for Korean and Chinese comfort food, including excellent dumplings.

What You’ll Find Here

• Korean mandu: steamed, boiled in soups (like kimchi mandu-guk), or fried as bar snacks.
• Chinese dumpling houses with hand-rolled wrappers and regional specialties.
• Large family-style restaurants ideal for big groups or celebrations.

Expect:

• Generous portions—an order of dumplings may be enough for a meal.
• Great pairing with Korean barbecue or Chinese hot pot if you want a fuller experience.

👍 Tip for families: Suburban spots often have easier parking, shorter waits at off-peak times, and space for kids.

Types of Dumplings You Can Try in Atlanta

Wherever you go, these dumpling types show up again and again across Atlanta:

1. Potstickers / Pan-Fried Dumplings

• Crispy-bottomed, juicy inside.
• Common fillings: pork + cabbage, chicken, or vegetable.
• Usually served with a soy–vinegar–garlic dipping sauce.

2. Boiled Dumplings (Shuijiao / Jiaozi)

• Chewy, satisfying wrappers, often served on a plate with dipping sauces.
• Often the most economical way to try several flavors—especially on Buford Highway.

3. Soup Dumplings (Xiaolongbao)

• Steamed in bamboo baskets.
• Filled with meat and gelatinized broth that melts into soup when steamed.
• Eat by:
  1. Picking one up carefully with chopsticks onto your spoon,
  2. Nibbling a small hole,
  3. Sipping the broth, then eating the rest.

4. Wontons in Chili Oil (Hong You Chao Shou)

• Thin-skinned dumplings, often pork or pork + shrimp.
• Served with tangy, spicy, sometimes slightly sweet Sichuan chili oil and aromatics.

5. Korean Mandu

• Larger, sometimes crescent-shaped.
• Fillings often include glass noodles, ground meat, tofu, and vegetables.
• Can be:
  • Deep-fried (crispy bar snack),
  • Steamed,
  • In soups (like dumpling soup with beef broth and egg ribbons).

How to Choose the Best Dumpling Spot for You

Atlanta has more dumpling options than any single list can cover, so focus on what matters most to you:

1. Location & Transportation

• Without a car:
  • Look near MARTA rail stations or walkable corridors like Midtown, Downtown, or BeltLine-adjacent areas.
• With a car:
  • Buford Highway (Doraville/Chamblee) and Duluth offer some of the deepest dumpling menus in the metro area.
  • Parking is usually much easier and cheaper outside the core.

2. Style of Experience

• Food hall / casual counter

  • Good if you’re with a group that can’t agree on one cuisine.
  • Dumplings are often one stall among many.

• Dedicated Chinese or Korean restaurant

  • Best if dumplings are your main goal.
  • Look for menus where dumplings have their own section or multiple preparations.

• Full-service “modern Asian” or fusion spot

  • Dumplings may be fewer in number but often come with creative fillings or sauces.
  • Better for date night or drinks + snacks.

3. Dietary Needs

Most dumpling spots in Atlanta can accommodate different diets to some degree:

• Vegetarian:

  • Look for vegetable dumplings, mushroom dumplings, or tofu + veggie wontons.
  • Broths may still be meat-based, so ask if that matters to you.

• Halal / kosher / gluten-sensitive:

  • Options can be more limited because traditional dumpling wrappers use wheat flour, and fillings often mix meats.
  • Some Pan-Asian restaurants offer rice-paper or gluten-free alternatives, but this is not yet widespread.
  • Calling ahead to ask about ingredients, separate prep areas, and cross-contact is important if you have strict requirements.

Practical Tips for Ordering Dumplings in Atlanta

A few local-friendly strategies will help you get the best experience:

1. Start Small, Share a Lot

Dumplings are ideal for sharing. In many Atlanta restaurants, one order is 6–10 dumplings. If you’re with others, consider:

• 2–3 different dumpling dishes for 2 people,
• 3–5 for 4 people, plus a noodle or veggie plate.

2. Mix Cooking Methods

To really explore a menu, order at least two different cooking styles:

• One steamed or boiled (lighter, shows off the filling),
• One pan-fried or deep-fried (crispy, crowd-pleasing).

3. Pay Attention to Spice and Heat

Sichuan-style dumplings and wontons may be labeled:

• “Spicy,” “Sichuan,” or “chili oil” on the menu.

Atlanta kitchens are used to diners with different heat levels; you can usually request:

• “Less spicy” or “sauce on the side” if you’re unsure.

4. Timing and Crowds

• Weekend evenings and holidays can mean long waits at popular spots, especially in Duluth and along Buford Highway.
• For a more relaxed experience:
  • Try weekday lunches or early dinners (before 6 p.m.).
  • Consider calling ahead to ask about current wait times.

How Locals Combine Dumplings with Other Dishes

In Atlanta, most dumpling-focused meals are part of a bigger spread. Typical pairings you’ll see:

• Dumplings + scallion pancakes
• Dumplings + fried rice or stir-fried noodles
• Dumplings + hot-and-sour soup or wonton soup
• Dumplings + Korean barbecue (in Duluth/Johns Creek)
• Dumplings as a first course before broader Chinese or Asian dishes

💡 Budget-friendly move: At many Buford Highway spots, a meal of one dumpling plate + one small noodle or rice dish can comfortably feed one person at a moderate price.

Takeout and Delivery Dumplings in Atlanta

Many Atlantans enjoy dumplings through takeout or delivery, especially for weeknight dinners.

What to know:

• Pan-fried dumplings can lose their crispness in transit; reheating in a hot skillet (no oil or very little) helps restore texture.
• Soup dumplings travel less well—they’re best eaten at the restaurant so the wrappers don’t rupture.
• Boiled dumplings and wontons in chili oil usually handle delivery well if they’re not sitting in the sauce for too long.

Helpful steps:

• Ask if sauces can be packed separately.
• If you’re ordering from further away (e.g., from Buford Highway to in-town), be aware that travel time can affect texture.

Using Official Local Resources to Explore

To explore dumpling options across Atlanta:

• City of Atlanta and MARTA maps can help you plan dumpling runs along the rail and bus lines.
  • MARTA Headquarters: 2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324, customer service (404) 848-5000.
• Local visitor centers, such as the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (233 Peachtree St NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303; main line (404) 521-6600), can point you toward food districts like Buford Highway, Midtown, or Duluth and provide transit or parking guidance.

These resources are useful if you’re new to the city and want to combine dumpling stops with sightseeing or public transit.

Putting It All Together

To find the best dumplings in Atlanta for you:

1. Choose your area

   • In-town and car-free? Aim for Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, or Downtown.
   • Want maximum variety and value? Head to Buford Highway.
   • Craving Korean dumplings plus barbecue? Look to Duluth / Johns Creek.

2. Pick your style

   • Classic Chinese? Look for jiaozi, potstickers, wontons, and soup dumplings.
   • Korean flavor? Seek out mandu and dumpling soups.

3. Order a mix

   • Combine at least two dumpling types and two cooking methods to get the full picture of what a restaurant can do.

With a little planning around neighborhood, style, and how adventurous you want to be, Atlanta offers enough dumpling options to keep you exploring for a long time—whether you’re a local or just visiting.