Gourmet Dumpling House, a Chinatown mainstay for dumplings and more, will close after 15 years; the last day will be June 30, per an update the business posted on Google, which cites the “lease term” as the reason for the closure.
“Thanks to all those who have supported Gourmet Dumpling House over the years,” the business writes. “We are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished in these glorious years and be more thankful to those who have believed in us. We got so emotional when we see so many touching comments online, you are all our families! We will miss you all!”
Gourmet Dumpling House is best known for its namesake dumplings — especially the “mini juicy dumplings” (soup dumplings), but the Sandong-style pan-fried dumplings are also popular. And non-dumpling dishes are solid, too, such as the ox tongue and tripe with chile sauce, the chilled spicy pig ears, and other offal.
Opened by owner Ed Chen in 2007, the restaurant has played host to a perpetually long line of eager diners over the years, and it’s a regular entry on “best of” lists locally and beyond. Boston chefs have sung its praises: Jamie Bissonnette of Toro, Coppa, and more gave its cold tripe salad and pork and leek dumplings a shoutout in a 2014 interview with Eater; Chris Coombs of Boston Chops, Deuxave, and Dbar said in 2015 that he’s “had the most mind-blowing meals of [his] life” there. “I think that their technical execution of Chinese cuisine … I think that they really understand the intricacies and depth of flavors.” Celebrities have stopped by, too, including actress Jennifer Lawrence, who reportedly snacked on soup dumplings and more while in town to shoot the film Joy in 2015.
Fortunately sibling restaurant Dumpling House, which opened in Cambridge in 2014, will remain open, featuring a similar menu, including a variety of excellent dumplings. And while Gourmet Dumpling House’s closure will certainly leave a hole in Chinatown, the neighborhood is luckily home to quite a few other desirable dumplings, with some of the city’s best soup dumplings found at places like Taiwan Cafe and Dumpling Cafe.
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