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Any season is a good season to enjoy dumplings, especially in Austin. Amid the pandemic, several local restaurants are making it easier to enjoy the comforting dish at home at their own pace through takeout and delivery frozen dumplings.
Each method of cooking varies depending on the type of dumpling: potstickers are generally cooked on the stovetop, whereas soup dumplings are all about the steamer. The beauty of buying frozen dumplings is that you can choose to eat them that night, or hold onto them for a later meal, plus you can prepare the dumplings to your preference, where it’s crispy or steamed. When you’re looking to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible, these dumpling meals should take less than 15 minutes, from restaurant freezer to your dining table.
In Austin, this means frozen soup dumplings from Asia Market, pelmeni from Russian House, vegan options from Steamies, and more. Everything below is listed alphabetically.
Asia Market
Whether you’re looking for xiao long bao, savory potstickers, or sweet buns, you’ll be sure to find all sorts of frozen dumplings at the Asian market and restaurant. Looking to make your own dumplings? The market offers plain house-made whole wheat or scallion buns, primed for fillings. Prices range from $5 to $15.
How to Order: Call (512) 383-5009 to place pickup orders
Address: 8650 Spicewood Springs Road, Barrington Oaks
Chef Hong
The West Campus Chinese food truck offers bags of 50 frozen dumplings, either pork and cabbage or pork and chives, for $25 and $28 respectively.
How to Order: Place pickup orders in person.
Address: 907 West 24th Street, West Campus
Julie’s Noodles
The Chinese restaurant is selling bags of 50 frozen house-made dumplings, with filling such as pork and cabbage and pork and shrimp, ranging from $40 to $32. Those who don’t want to choose can opt for the mixed dumpling bag for $32.
How to Order: Place pickup orders online.
Address: 8557 Research Boulevard, North Austin
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Lotus Chinese
This Chinese-American restaurant (formerly General Tso’Boy and Lotus + Cleaver) offers several frozen dumpling bags to-go. Fillings include pork and cabbage, chicken and basil, and the vegetarian-friendly sweet potato, alongside sauce jars from chili oil to sweet and sour. A bag of 12 dumplings is $9.29. Those looking for more dumplings can opt for the $25 two bags and two sauces deal.
How to Order: Place pickup orders online; the frozen dumplings are also available at East Sixth market Bee Grocery
Address: 11501 Rock Rose Avenue, Domain Northside
Russian House
To expand that dumpling palette, try the pelmeni from the Russian restaurant. The traditional meat dumpling fillings range from elk, wild boar, to even bear. A pound of the basic pelmeni is $4.75, and a pound of the meat pelmeni ranges from $15 to $20, depending on the filling.
How to Order: Place pickup and delivery orders online.
Address: 307 East Fifth Street, Downtown
Steamies
The popular farmers market dumpling stand and family-run shop is offering a good selection of frozen dumplings, from steamed buns to soup dumplings (which often sell out), as well as vegan options. Everything is made fresh, following family recipes and using local meats and vegetables. Prices range from $8 to $12
How to Order: Place orders online for pickups at the Airport Boulevard store; there are in-person pickups at the farmers markets at Lakeline (11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Cedar Park) on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Mueller (4209 Airport Boulevard) on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Address: 6929 Airport Boulevard, Suite 148, Highland
Wu Chow
The downtown upscale modern Chinese restaurant is offering a whole frozen dumpling pack. The freshly frozen, house-made dumplings come in four varieties: chicken, beef, pork, vegetable. People can choose up to three flavors for the 15-dumpling pack for $27.
How to Order: Place pickup orders online.
Address: 500 West Fifth Street, Downtown
Ziggy’s Kielbasa House
Of course the Polish-American deli specializes in frozen pierogies. On deck are $10 bags of six pierogies, with fillings such as potato/bacon/cheddar cheese, potato/onion, and sauerkraut/mushroom, among others. People can either pan-fry, boil, or even bake the pierogies.
How to Order: Place pickup orders online or in person.
Address: 2403 South US 183 Highway, Leander
Update, October 9, 2:44 p.m.: This article, originally published on September 23, has been updated by Nadia Chaudhury to include additional restaurants offering frozen dumplings.