DUMPLING EMPIRE

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑

District: Ralston

Handmade dumplings & noodle dishes

Standout Dishes: Hot Chili Noodle; Tri-Colored Steamed Soup Buns; Cucumber Salad; Cold Sesame Noodle

The first thing you see when you step inside Dumpling Empire tells you all you need to know about this restaurant… and puts you alert that you’re about to have a great meal.

Directly in front of the door is a giant open kitchen. Behind the glass partition are employees forming dumplings by hand, stuffing them and loading them into steaming baskets. To their right is the noodle table, where another cook is hand-pulling and cutting noodles, which are cooked to order.

Nothing is coming out of a bag here. Dumpling Empire is making each bun, wonton, and noodle itself, displaying a commitment to quality that you taste in every bite.

Located off 72nd and Harrison in Ralston, Dumpling Empire opened with great excitement in the summer of 2024 because one item in particular graced its menu: the evasive soup dumpling.

For all the great dumpling/wonton/potsticker options in Omaha (Kathmandu Momo Station and Hip Bao are at the top of that list), Omaha lacked a restaurant, Omaha didn’t have a restaurant offering soup dumplings, a wrapper encasing both protein and a warm, broth.

If Dumpling Empire’s version is any indication, there’s a reason the city clamored for them for so long. The Tri-Colored Steamed Soup Buns are delicious as they are fun and unique to eat.

Don’t just pop one in your mouth; rather, the traditional way is to place the dumpling in a soup spoon, either bite a hole or poke one with a chopstick, then slurp the soup. Dumpling Empire’s version is rich and savory, and it coats your tongue in a way that provides great flavor balance when you subsequently pop the pork-filled dumpling into your mouth.

But this is far from the only dish on DE’s expansive menu. You’ll find a bevy of noodle soups, stir-fried noodles, fried rice dishes, American/Chinese plates, and, of course, loads of dumplings.

The Steamed Shumai are supple little wonton purses housing a fatty, tender meatball filled with herbs and spices. It’s difficult to not pop bite after bite into your mouth. The Boiled Pork Dumplings lack that same cravability, but they, like all of DE’s offerings, have a supple, pleasant exterior and plenty of filling.

Don’t sleep on the Strange Taste Wonton because of the name. These pork dumplings, submerged in a visually arresting red broth, are all at once spicy, sweet, and sour. The flavor is indeed a bit odd upon your first bite, but not in a bad way by any means.

While the dumplings are certainly worth being Dumpling Empire’s namesake, one could argue that the noodles are actually the star of the show. Such a point would be difficult to debate after tasting the Chili Oil Noodle, with its hand-stretched wide, bouncy strands that are both tender and firm. The Chili Oil Noodle adds some good spice without overwhelming, and despite the name doesn’t taste too oily or greasy.

The Cold Sesame Noodle is a completely different experience but has the same tastebud-pleasing results. These noodles are thin and slurpable, coated in a sweet, nutty sauce similar in flavor to a milder peanut butter. It’s a rich, creamy dish that’s both hearty and refreshing.

The Combination Stir Fry Noodle is more similar to what one might expect from a Chinese takeout joint. The brown sauce is sweet and salty with a little umami, and all the veggies and meats are cooked well. There’s nothing truly exciting about the dish (expect the portion size, which is enormous), but it’s tasty.

One of the best and most surprising dishes is the Cucumber Salad, a flavor bomb of crunchy cukes marinated in a sweet, spicy sauce with plenty of garlic. The Cheese Wontons are similar to a crab rangoon, with crispy exteriors and plenty of cream cheese. The Scallion Pancake Beef Roll features a chewy, flaky scallion pancake rolled up and stuffed with sliced beef, then topped with an umami-forward sauce. It’s better in concept than execution, but is nonetheless a solid starter dish.

With slatted wooden paneling, plenty of lighting, and a variety of seating options, Dumpling Empire’s interior is warm and friendly, and the staff is knowledgeable enough to help walk you through the menu. And that help is welcome, because there are dozens of dishes to choose from; one could visit many times and only scratch the surface. The best move is to go with a big group, order a bump of dumplings and appetizers, and go to town.

Whatever you order, you know the people who will be making it, because they’re right there in front of you. And you know you’re going to enjoy it.