The Dumpling Shop

What is The Dumpling Shop? Operating out of a modest commercial strip on Willowdale Avenue just north of Sheppard, The Dumpling Shop (新记上海点心) functions less like a conventional restaurant and more like an indispensable neighbourhood commissary. For more than fifteen years—and through an ownership transition in late 2024—the humble shopfront has remained dedicated to hand-wrapping traditional Shanghainese dim sum and northern-style dumplings. The space is strictly utilitarian with upright chest freezers lining the perimeter and minimal counter surface, geared squarely for quick takeout rather than leisurely dining.

The Dumpling Shop Menu & What to Order While you can grab a hot plate of steamed soup dumplings or pan-fried pork and chive dumplings for an immediate lunch, the insider play is stocking your home freezer with bags of 20 to 50 freshly frozen pieces. The juicy pork and fennel dumplings, delicate cabbage-and-pork wontons, and sticky rice siu mai studded with shiitake mushrooms deliver restaurant-grade texture with wrappers that hold up perfectly in boiling water or a hot skillet. Vegetarians are well cared for with leek, egg, and vermicelli parcels alongside shredded carrot and black fungus dumplings, while the savoury salted egg yolk meat zongzi is a rich treat worth securing early.

Know Before You Go There are no reservations or table service here; the counter runs strictly on walk-ins and swift takeaway pickups. Free surface parking is available right in the front strip lot, making it an easy pit stop when running errands along Willowdale. The shop is open daily from morning through early evening, though calling ahead is recommended if you are making a dedicated run for specialty zongzi or bulk orders.