#dumplings

#dumplings

You might think of it as a sleepy suburb, but amid its quiet neighborhoods and well-regarded school districts, San Ramon is home to plenty of exciting restaurants. The town has become a particularly strong hub for Indian food, with everything from elevated modern interpretations to regional specialties, and you'll also find dumpling destinations, noodle soups worth waiting for, and a steakhouse with surprisingly good deals.

In the months ahead, we have major restaurant openings from Michelin chefs and famous New York restaurateurs, as well as a swell of diverse and delicious smaller restaurants joining our neighborhoods. Each week, Boston.com will highlight the restaurant openings worth knowing about across the region. Some spots will already be open, while others are set to debut in 2026. At least one featured restaurant will always be a bonus item - either a pop-up, a collaboration, or event at area restaurants.

When I was a kid and thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up, and what city I'd want to live in, and how cute my apartment would be, I didn't yet realize what adulthood really means: cooking all your meals. Then, when you have a family, the amount of cooking just balloons. If you have a family and are trying to eat on a budget, meaning takeout is usually not an option, it's so much f*cking cooking.

Pull on the biang biang noodles at Xi'an Gourmet House, and you'll find they extend as long as you are tall. This all-day restaurant tucked in Midtown serves hot bowls of soup, dumplings, and noodles with a core focus on the Xi'an region in China. It's the place to hide out for a cozy lunch with a friend or a warm dinner well into the evening. With most dishes under $15, this no-fuss spot delivers on precise regional flavors and chill vibes.

Fill, fold, pinch, repeat. Muscle memory kicks in as I envelop the gift in its wrapping. The gift is not a toy or clothes. It's not the "Guinness World Records" book that my dad requests year after year and is still surprised by every time. The gift is ground pork, green onions, ginger, shiitake mushrooms and everything good in the world. Its wrapping paper is a chewy round sheet of dough.

Tucked into West Town, Lao Peng You is a Chinese spot centered on dumplings and noodles - dishes rooted in memory, ritual, and family. Founded in 2019 by brothers Daniel and Eric Wat, the restaurant is a tribute to their childhoods; the pair learned how to make dumplings from their grandmother, who immigrated from just outside Shanghai. Nearly seven years in, Lao Peng You is consistently packed.

We took the viral trend of dumpling bakes and gave it a fusion twist. If you love fusion cuisine, this Gluten-Free Dumpling Enchiladas recipe is about to become your new favorite weeknight meal. It's a mouthwatering blend of comforting Mexican flavors and savory Asian-inspired dumplings-all baked together in a single dish. The best part? It's incredibly easy to make and guaranteed to impress your family or dinner guests.

The bake is a one-pan dish that uses a few Trader Joe's packaged ingredients - Trader Joe's frozen dumplings, Trader Joe's Thai Red Curry Sauce, and Trader Joe's Soyaki (a mix of soy sauce and teriyaki sauce), along with coconut milk and garlic. You'll only need to mince the garlic and chop some veggies for the topping. Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion tops the dish with a vibrant red color and spicy flavor.

The new spot has just opened on Mare Street Bar 161 on Mare Street is no more as new spot Paper Tiger has taken its place, with handmade dumplings and artisanal cocktails in tow. After a soft launch at the end of October and a Halloween event, which included pumpkin dumplings, Sichuan candy apples, Blood Moon Negronis and a costume competition, the bar is officially open for business.

Dumplings are a universal food with many variations like gyoza, ravioli, kibbeh, and tamales. Pierogi, originally from Poland, became especially popular in Ohio.

Dumpling Home is the gold standard, thanks to expertly folded xiao long bao and green vegetable dumplings known for their unique shapes and flavors.