The Dumpling Trail

Endless Bites in Richmond, British Columbia

Photo: Tourism Richmond

If your idea of a perfect day involves chopsticks and a steady diet of steamed parcels, Richmond, B.C., is basically your playground. The Dumpling Trail isn’t a single path but a self-guided tasting tour through 15 restaurants scattered across this famously food-obsessed city just south of Vancouver. Your mission is simple: sample as many dumplings as you (and your stretchy pants) can handle.

Richmond is home to one of the largest Asian communities in North America, and it shows in the sheer variety of dumplings on offer. Think delicate xiao long bao with hot broth inside, chewy Korean mandu, and golden pan-fried potstickers. Each stop brings a different tradition and a new excuse to order ‘just one more.’ Keep reading for a peek at a few of the top stops on the Dumpling Trail.

Photo: Tourism Richmond

Dinasty Dumpling House: There are four locations of Dinasty Dumpling House scattered around the region, each one serving Shanghainese and Taiwanese dishes. The item everyone comes for, however, is xiao long bao — delicate soup dumplings with a rich pork broth that bursts in a single bite.

Empire Seafood Restaurant: A classic dim sum spot where the shrimp har gow are translucent and perfectly springy. Come early on weekends or be ready to join the bustling waitlist.

Silkway Halal Cuisine: Take a turn toward Western China with lamb, beef, or fish dumplings in hearty combinations. If you want a more rugged flavour, this is your pit stop.

Empire Seafood Restaurant: A classic dim sum spot where the shrimp har gow are translucent and perfectly springy. Come early on weekends or be ready to join the bustling waitlist.

Silkway Halal Cuisine: Take a turn toward Western China with lamb, beef, or fish dumplings in hearty combinations. If you want a more rugged flavour, this is your pit stop.

Parkhill Seafood Restaurant: Dim sum here leans classic but with a touch of Chiu Chow (Teochew) flair. Expect delicate shrimp dumplings, pork-and-peanut siu mai, and steamed seafood pockets that arrive in bamboo baskets the moment they leave the kitchen.

Dumpling Trail Tips:

Go with friends and share so you can cover more ground.
Weekday afternoons mean shorter waits and hotter baskets.
Bring cash and an open mind as some of the best bites are in unassuming spots.

Parkhill Seafood Restaurant: Dim sum here leans classic but with a touch of Chiu Chow (Teochew) flair. Expect delicate shrimp dumplings, pork-and-peanut siu mai, and steamed seafood pockets that arrive in bamboo baskets the moment they leave the kitchen.