Snack packs: Best Asian dumplings in Calgary

Good things come in small packages. Every cuisine seems to have its own version of the dumpling, whether it’s Chinese wontons and potstickers, Japanese gyoza or even Italian ravioli and tortellini, there’s just something satisfying about biting into these little packets wrapped in dough to reveal the flavourful filling inside. Start your journey around the world of dumplings with these delicious Asian offerings.

Snack packs: Best Asian dumplings in Calgary
Vincci Tsui By

Great Taste

1
123 2 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0B2

Considered one of the best places in the city for steamed Shanghai pork dumplings, aka soup dumplings or xiaolongbao, Great Taste also serves a variety of dumplings from other Chinese cuisines, including wonton in soup and pan-fried dumplings. If you like spicy food, you must order their dumplings in spicy sauce, a Sichuan dish made extra flavourful with Sichuan peppercorns.

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Forbidden City Restaurant

2
220-999 36 St NE, Calgary, AB T2A 7X6

Looking to try a variety of dumplings in one go? A dim sum lunch or brunch is the way to go, and Forbidden City serves some of the best dim sum in the city. The Pacific Place Mall restaurant does all the classics, including har gao (shrimp dumplings) and shu mai (pork dumplings) as well as dumplings with their own creative twist, like shrimp dumplings flavoured with curry or wasabi.

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Seoul Korean BBQ

3
201-4336 MacLeod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2G 0A4

Korean dumplings, called mandu, are quite similar to some of their Chinese and Japanese counterparts – a filling made with meat and/or tofu with garlic, ginger, chives, onion and mushroom is wrapped with a thick dough. These are then served pan-fried, boiled or steamed. At Seoul Korean BBQ, you can enjoy three flavours of fried mandu, including kimchi with pork, or try them boiled in beef dumpling and sliced rice cake soup.

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The Samosa Factory

4
135-55 Westwinds Cres NE, Calgary, AB T3J 5H2

The Samosa Factory is not a sit-down restaurant, but it is the place to go for samosas in Calgary. The company produces several flavours of samosas in various sizes, as well as other Indian treats that include pakoras and chaat. No order is too big or too small; The Samosa Factory claims it can make up to 5,000 samosas in short notice, but staff are just as friendly if you’re simply picking up a few.

The Himalayan Ltd

5
2-3218 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3E 0B3

You know your way around wontons, jiaozi, gyoza and samosas, but have you ever tried a momo? Momo are dumplings commonly found in Nepal, Tibet and parts of India that are often shaped quite similarly to Chinese xiaolongbao, though there are also crescent-shaped momo. At Himalayan, you can choose between chicken, pork or vegetarian momo. The use of various herbs and spices makes these dumplings unique from their East Asian counterparts, as does the spiced tomato sauce used for dipping.

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Anju

6
344 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0A8

The oxtail tortellini at Anju is hardly an “Asian dumpling,” as you’d be hard-pressed to find a “sogori mandu” elsewhere. Still, this melt-in-your-mouth oxtail and truffle-oil treat wrapped in paper-thin dough and sprinkling with Grana Padano is one of Anju’s signature dishes. Visit the Euro-Korean restaurant from 11 pm on (it’s open until 1 am nightly), and enjoy a twist on the traditional dim sum menu – steamed shrimp dumplings punched up with chili oil and Sriracha and snow crab shu mai filled with pork, kimchi, tofu and glass noodles.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Vincci Tsui Vincci Tsui
Vincci is a registered dietitian, food lover and eater. She is passionate about guiding people towards better health in ways that are practical and delicious. Aside from her weekly nutrition blog, Vincci is a contributor to Avenue Magazine and is very active in the Calgary food scene and on social media.
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