who makes the the best frozen (for cooking at home) Chinese dumplings?

[little.tiger]

This year it's my family's turn to host our yearly dumpling rolling party for Chinese New Year. I've noticed in the past we never seem to roll fast enough to keep up with everyone's appetites (kids outnumber adults, and of course the kids keep getting bigger and eating more too!). This year, I want to be prepared and have some ready to cook to take the pressure off. Which ones are your favourite, and why? Are they well and consistently made (ie. do not fall apart when boiled, even wrappers, well closed, etc.)? I normally get frozen ones from Golden Garden but they are a bit inconsistent (breakage rate is higher than I like). Filling are delicious though. Wondering what else out there would be just as tasty, but more reliable.

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Golden Garden
63 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02478

[opinionatedchef]

i have bought, for years, froz dumplings from Wangs and Mulan. With barley et al's Jojo taipei mention, we cooked up some of jojo's tonight. Result- a VAST difference. JoJo Taipei's meat mixture has a totally different, soft, loose,almost creamy texture and mouthfeel.The meat is march-cut as opposed to ground, so it doesn't hold together in a dense ball when you bite into the dumpling. The meat filling of the dumplings from W and M is a ball of dense/compacted ground meat. Flavor wise, i think the JJT filling has deeper flavor, perhaps w/ more soy in it, and it is packed with green bits; the meat mixture is definitely darker(but that's also prob because of less fat content). JoJo's are $3 or $4 more expensive for 50, but so superior that i will only buy from them in the future. Thank you again, Boston CHs.

here's a more recent thread on frozen dumplings:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/802553

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JoJo Tai Pei Restaurant
103 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134

[cambridgedoctpr]

i suggest trying Golden Garden's dumplings which I consider the best in boston; I will try JoJo's, too.

Roger

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Golden Garden
63 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02478

[opinionatedchef]

roger, have you also tried wang's and/or mulan's? i've tried to describe what makes the jojo ones so special; how do you describe the golden garden ones- in comparison? thnx much.

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mulan
228 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

[cambridgedoctpr]

OC, i have tried wang's and mulan's dumpling on multiple occasion but prefer GG. GG is pretty close to Wangs and with a more delicate skin than Mulan; that is something that i prefer.

I have not had them at JoJo Tapei yet but will do so.

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mulan
228 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

[little.tiger]

Thank you everyone. I think I'll give Wang's a go.

[VivreManger]

I have been eating Wang's dumplings for years with no complaints. I think they are the best bulk packaged frozen dumplings made in the Boston area.

[cambridgedoctpr]

i think that getting the water to a boil and stirring at least once per minute for the first 3 or 4 minutes will prevent the dumplings from sticking to the pain and tearing.

i buy dumplings from wang's, golden garden, and mulan; as long as i stir, i rarely have a problem with a dumpling that has fallen apart.

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mulan
228 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

[tatsu]

I was taught to pour in cups of room temp water as it boils to achieve the same thing.

[y2000k]

May I hijack this thread and ask about dumpling skins? I am making dumplings for Chinese new year and wonder where I can get fresh dumpling skins/wrappers (the round ones)? Russo's carry square wrappers from Ho Toy Noodle factory, but not round ones. Does Ho Toy make round ones? And if they do, where can I get them?

[lc02139]

Most of the markets in chinatown have both the yellow (thinner) and white (thicker) flour wrappers in round and square versions, as well as suburban cmarts, 88 and even hmart.

[lipoff]

Wang's! Unique also makes good dumplings with a variety of fillings, but the only real competitor to Wang's is Qingdao Garden, which is temporarily out of commission.

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Qingdao Garden Restaurant
2382 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

[hoolese]

I've been getting them from some of the Chinatown markets, I think its CMart. The brand is Chinese Spaghetti Factory, 50 pack. They are almost as good as Wangs frozen, but less expensive and easier to pick up after work. A friend said his grandmother made dumplings by boiling the water, dropping the dumplings in, then when it comes to boil again drop a cup of water in, and repeat when it boils again, then strain after it boils. We make the sauce with rice vinegar, soy sauce, a little sesame oil and chives.

[justbeingpolite]

Formosa Taipei in Lexington sells bags of 50. Very fresh tasting, Love the pork with cabbage. They make a good veggie dumpling as well.

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Formosa Taipei
315 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA 02421

[Fishegg]

Hard to beat the Spaghetti Factory pork and leek dumplings for 4 bucks at H-Mart

[justbeingpolite]

I think these (those from Formosa Taipei) do.

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Formosa Taipei
315 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA 02421

[bakerboyz]

Don't know if they sell direct to the public, but the Chinese Spaghetti Factory has a place at Newmarket Square if it's the same one.

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Chinese Spaghetti Factory
83 Newmarket Sq, Boston, MA 02118

[MABMAQ]

went to Asian Market in Westboro today - they sell pork and leek, chicken and shrimp, pork, and mini chicken ones from Spaghetti Factory - 4.75 per bag

[gimlis1mum]

Is that the same as Chinese Brand, that's sold at HMart and Hong Kong Market (and probably others)? My friend who taught me to make wontons loves Chinese Brand and it's pretty much all I buy anymore.

[tatsu]

mos def, that is "the right way to boil dumplings" (c) 2011

[crowdingthepan]

I've been supplementing my diet with a 50 count bag of pork and leek dumplings from Unique in Allston this week. Drop 'em in boiling water while they're still frozen. When they float, turn the heat down a little, cook for another four or five minutes and they're spot on. I haven't had a single breakage situation.

[cambridgedoctpr]

mulan also makes good - but larger dumplings which are less delicate. They told me that their prices increased due to the yuan v dollar situation. I had not realized that they were using the yuan as their currency.

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mulan
228 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

[rknrll]

Wang's in Somerville sells their homemade frozen dumplings by the 50pc bag.
9 fillings to choose from...4 at $13, 4 at $14, 1 at $15.

[hiddenboston]

I second Wang's/

[chickendhansak]

+N on Wang's because we have served them to people who then go off and start buying from Wang's too. I like the pork and leek and the vegetarian ones (there are two kinds IIRC). They take about 8 mins in boiling water from frozen and don't fall apart. Not that I am an expert on such things, but others here seem to rate Wang's very highly and I've not felt the need to try anyone else's.