Best Dumplings in Edinburgh
Looking for the best dumplings in Edinburgh? This guide covers the top spots for handmade dumplings, dim sum, soup dumplings, and modern fusion creations.
What Makes a Great Dumpling?
- Fresh handmade wrappers
- Balanced filling
- Proper steaming or pan-frying
- Authentic flavour
Top Dumpling Experiences in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s Old Town and city centre offer some of Scotland’s most exciting dumpling experiences. From casual eateries to modern Asian kitchens, we review taste, texture, and value.
Best Dumplings in Edinburgh — Our Definitive Ranked Guide
Last updated: March 2026. Dumpling Guide reviews all venues independently. We accept no payment for listings or rankings.
Edinburgh’s dumpling scene is more interesting than most visitors expect. Behind the city’s well-trodden restaurant rows and tourist-facing menus, a small number of kitchens are producing dumplings of genuine quality — handmade, properly seasoned, and rooted in regional Chinese cooking traditions. This guide covers the best of them, ranked by flavour, authenticity, texture, and value.
We do not rank by atmosphere, social media presence, or ease of finding a table. We rank by what ends up in the dumpling.
🥇 Best Overall: Dumpling Queen X Dai Jou Bu
52 Blackfriars Street, Old Town · £10–20 · Rating: 4.8/5 · Cash & Credit Card
The highest-rated dumpling restaurant in Edinburgh, and for good reason. Dumpling Queen X Dai Jou Bu brings Hong Kong-style dim sum and handmade dumplings to a small, characterful space in the Old Town — a five-minute walk from the Royal Mile. The kitchen was founded by a Hong Kong-born chef who trained from 2019 and opened this Edinburgh outpost in 2024.
The dumpling range is broad: xiao long bao (soup dumplings), spicy pan-fried dumplings, wontons, and their signature Haggis Dumpling — a genuine Scottish-Hong Kong fusion that works better than it sounds. The wrapper quality is consistently good, thin without being fragile, and the fillings are well-seasoned with real depth.
The Tan Tan Noodles are an essential order alongside any dumpling selection. Service is warm and the space — decorated with original oil paintings by the owner — has a personality rarely found in Edinburgh’s Asian dining scene.
What to order: Xiao Long Bao, Spicy Dumplings, Haggis Dumpling (for the experience), Tan Tan Noodles.
Best for: First-timers, visitors, groups of up to four. Book ahead for weekends.
Vegan options: Yes — dedicated vegan menu available.
🥈 Best for Authenticity: Dumplings of China
60 Home Street, Tollcross · £10–20 · Rating: 4.6/5 · Cash Only
Dumplings of China is the most established dedicated dumpling restaurant in Edinburgh, and it maintains a standard that many newer arrivals have struggled to match. The chef has worked in kitchens across China and the UK, and it shows — the handmade jiaozi here are among the most technically accomplished in the city.
The restaurant makes its dumplings in full view of the street — you can often watch the chef at the window, working through a methodical production of uniform dough circles. The menu runs to ten varieties of boiled jiaozi, plus pan-fried options, alongside an extensive selection of authentic Chinese dishes that goes well beyond dumplings: Hunan-style pork, braised aubergine, clay pot dishes, and the signature Rainbow Dumpling platter — an excellent way to try a range in one sitting.
This is food that tastes like China, not a UK approximation of it. Reviewers who have lived in China consistently cite it as one of the few Edinburgh restaurants they trust for genuine flavour.
What to order: Rainbow Dumpling Platter, Pork and Prawn Jiaozi, Braised Aubergine in Yuxiang Style, Braised Pork Belly.
Best for: Those who know Chinese food and want it done properly. Family meals. Regulars.
Note: Book in advance, particularly Thursday–Saturday evenings. Takeaway available.
🥉 Best Budget: Noodles & Dumplings
23 South Clerk Street, Southside · £10–20 · Rating: 4.5/5 · Cash Only
The most reviewed dumpling restaurant in Edinburgh, and also the most no-frills. Noodles & Dumplings on South Clerk Street is a cash-only, hand-pulled noodle and dumpling bar that prioritises cooking over comfort. The decor is functional, the menu is manageable, and the food is outstanding relative to its price.
The hand-pulled noodles are the main event — you can watch them being made to order — but the dumplings are equally considered. Pan-fried chicken dumplings, juicy steamed pork wontons, and the fried dumplings have all drawn consistent praise from regulars. Portions are generous. The beef fried noodles and beef flank noodle soup are dishes that bring people back weekly.
This is a place where Edinburgh’s Chinese community eats, which is usually the most reliable quality indicator available. Cash and bank transfer only — there is an ATM nearby.
What to order: Pan-Fried Chicken Dumplings, Beef Flank Noodle Soup, Steamed Pork Wontons.
Best for: Lunch, budget meals, solo dining, students. Cash only.
Note: No card payments accepted. Can get busy at peak lunch hours.
Worth To Try: Five Dumplings
311 Leith Walk, Leith · £10–20 · Rating: 4.2/5 · Cash Only
Five Dumplings on Leith Walk is the kind of place food-knowledgeable locals quietly recommend to each other but rarely appears on mainstream lists. The space is small and has zero Instagram appeal — but the cooking punches well above its profile. One food writer described it as a kitchen where the chef “knows Northern Chinese cooking inside out,” and the dishes back that up.
The handmade dumplings here are particularly strong — generously filled, properly pleated, and cooked with care. The menu also features dan dan noodles, yuxiang king oyster mushrooms, chilli green beans, and spicy veggie wontons. It opens from 5pm and fills quickly. Go early or be prepared to wait.
What to order: Handmade Dumplings, Dan Dan Noodles, Yuxiang King Oyster Mushrooms, Aubergine.
Best for: Food explorers, Leith locals, anyone who values substance over surroundings.
Note: Opens 5pm. BYO drinks welcome. Very limited seating — arrive early.
Also Worth Knowing: Dumpling Banquet
32 South Clerk Street, Southside · £20–30 · Rating: 4.5/5 · Cash and Credit card
At the higher end of Edinburgh’s dumpling restaurants in terms of price and presentation. Dumpling Banquet draws on Xi’an and Northern Chinese dumpling traditions — jiaozi with regional fillings, ceremonially served. The experience is more considered than most of its neighbours, and the rating reflects a loyal following. Worth visiting for a special meal or if you want to understand the depth of Chinese dumpling culture beyond everyday versions.
Also Worth Knowing: 5 Dumplings
87 Newhaven Road, Newhaven · £10–20 · Rating: 4.0/5 · Cash Only
A neighbourhood Chinese restaurant in Newhaven serving dependable dumplings and noodles. Less central than the others on this list, but useful if you’re in the north of Edinburgh. Reviewers praise the speed of service and the honest quality of the food. A reliable option, though not destination dining.
How Dumpling Guide Rates Edinburgh’s Dumplings
Every venue on this list is assessed against four criteria:
- Flavour: Seasoning, depth, balance. Does the filling taste of something?
- Authenticity: Technique, tradition, sourcing. Is this how the dish is supposed to be made?
- Texture: Wrapper quality and filling consistency. The ratio of skin to filling matters.
- Value: Price relative to quality. A £15 plate of outstanding dumplings ranks higher than a £8 plate of mediocre ones.
We do not accept payment, sponsored placements, or free meals in exchange for coverage. If a restaurant appears on this page, it is because we believe it merits inclusion on culinary grounds alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the best dumplings in Edinburgh?
The highest-rated options are Dumpling Queen X Dai Jou Bu in the Old Town (best overall), Dumplings of China in Tollcross (best for authenticity), and Noodles & Dumplings on South Clerk Street (best value). See our full rankings above.
Are there vegan dumpling options in Edinburgh?
Yes — Dumpling Queen X Dai Jou Bu has a dedicated vegan menu, and Five Dumplings on Leith Walk offers spicy veggie wontons and vegetarian options. See our full vegan dumplings Scotland guide for more.
What types of dumplings are available in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh’s dumpling restaurants primarily serve Chinese styles — xiao long bao (soup dumplings), jiaozi (boiled or pan-fried), wontons, and dim sum varieties. For a full breakdown of dumpling styles, visit our guide to dumpling types.
Are Edinburgh’s dumpling restaurants expensive?
Most Edinburgh dumpling restaurants fall in the £10–20 per person range, making them among the best-value dining options in the city. Noodles & Dumplings on South Clerk Street is particularly affordable, with dishes typically under £10.
Do Edinburgh dumpling restaurants take bookings?
Dumplings of China accepts bookings (recommended for evenings). Dumpling Queen X Dai Jou Bu is walk-in but can get busy on weekends. Noodles & Dumplings and Five Dumplings do not take reservations — arrive early to avoid a wait.
This page is updated regularly as Edinburgh’s dumpling scene evolves. Know a venue we’ve missed? Get in touch with the Dumpling Guide team.