Chinese dumplings aren’t your western biscuity affair. They feature a delicate pasta-like wrapper made with wheat or rice flour.
Fillings vary from pork to shrimp, eggs, and leeks. Here are our top picks for Tucson.
China Pasta House
430 N. Park Ave.
While China Pasta House offers several varieties of dumplings, shrimp or leeks & pork are safe bets. Shrimp has a sweet, snappy bite, while the leeks & pork offer a simple oniony flavor with a touch of ginger.
The Pork Steamed Buns are not actually buns — they’re soup dumplings. Let them cool down just a bit, then pop the whole thing in your mouth for an explosion of gelatinous porky broth.
For more information, call (520) 623-3334 or visit chinapastahousetucson.com.
Noodleholics
3502 E. Grant Rd.
Noodleholics has been open only a few months and I’ve had the Chaoshou Dumplings maybe eight different times already.
The filling has just the right amount of ginger-scallion freshness, while the chili oil is earthy and potent. I regularly daydream of these dumplings and hate myself for not eating them right now.
They have other dumplings, but the chaoshou dumplings are just that addictive.
For more information, call (520) 305-4262 or visit noodleholics.com.
Sushi Lounge
4802 S. Sixth Ave.
Dumplings from dim sum cart restaurants taste stale in comparison to Sushi Lounge’s freshly-cooked dumplings.
The Har Gow are supple and delicate, and melt-in-your-mouth without being mushy. The Soup Pork Dumplings (xiaolongbao) erupted with broth all over my forearm when I poked it with my chopstick (my fault). The Shumai features a plump filling with earthy mushroom flavor.
Keep up with Sushi Lounge on Facebook.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
