One of Everything

Here Are 33 Different Kinds of Dumplings From NYC’s Newest Dumpling Paradise

Duck-filled dumplings from Dumpling Galaxy
Duck-filled dumplings from Dumpling Galaxy Photo: King Yip

Dumplings are one of those foods, like, pizza and burgers, that even when they’re bad, they’re still pretty good. But when they’re good — made with care and high-quality ingredients — they are truly special. And people who have visited Helen You’s Tianjin Dumpling, the eight-year-old Golden Shopping Mall stall in Flushing, know that she specializes in filling combinations found nowhere else. Now she’s debuted the full-service Dumpling Galaxy at the much roomier Arcadia Mall, offering upwards of 100 different varieties of dumplings.

What’s the reason for the expansive menu? “I started from there and couldn’t stop,” You tells Grub, explaining that unlike other standard-bearer pork and chive places around the city, she fills all her dumplings to order — that’s almost unheard of, anywhere. Furthermore, she now plans to overhaul the menu every other year, which means Dumpling Galaxy’s selection will only grow as expansively, like its name indicates, with age. But before that happens, here’s a very necessary primer: a look at 33 of the most unusual, tastiest, and most unexpectedly sweet renditions on the menu.

Duck and Mushrooms

Duck, duck, shroom.
Duck, duck, shroom. Photo: Jason Crowley

Duck and Mushrooms

Dried Octopus

Octo-dumplings!
Octo-dumplings! Photo: Jason Crowley

Dried Octopus


Americans probably don’t think dessert when they hear mushroom. But in China, hawthorn, tart red fruit, and white wood ear mushroom are used to make a popular dessert soup. At Dumpling Galaxy, the cooks deploy a heavier hand with the anise.

Lend me your (wood) ear.
Lend me your (wood) ear. Photo: Jason Crowley


Americans probably don’t think dessert when they hear mushroom. But in China, hawthorn, tart red fruit, and white wood ear mushroom are used to make a popular dessert soup. At Dumpling Galaxy, the cooks deploy a heavier hand with the anise.


Pork and Bitter Melon

Bitter melon FTW.
Bitter melon FTW. Photo: Jason Crowley


Pork and Bitter Melon


It’s a style of dumpling called tangyuan. Tang means soup, approximately, which is why the glutinous rice balls are cooked in and served in the soup. Only mildly sweet, this strawberry dumpling is made with a sticky rice wrapper and served in a rice-vinegar based broth.

Yes, that does look like yolk, but it's not.
Yes, that does look like yolk, but it’s not. Photo: Jason Crowley


It’s a style of dumpling called tangyuan. Tang means soup, approximately, which is why the glutinous rice balls are cooked in and served in the soup. Only mildly sweet, this strawberry dumpling is made with a sticky rice wrapper and served in a rice-vinegar based broth.


Before cooking, the squid is soaked in Shaoxing cooking wine to temper its fishiness and tenderize the meat.

Just don't call it "calamari."
Just don’t call it “calamari.” Photo: Jason Crowley


Before cooking, the squid is soaked in Shaoxing cooking wine to temper its fishiness and tenderize the meat.


Traditional Steamed Seafood

Also, traditional pork!
Also, traditional pork! Photo: King Yip


Traditional Steamed Seafood


Everyone’s favorite flavor.

Looks a bit fresher than your standard pork dumpling, don't it?
Looks a bit fresher than your standard pork dumpling, don’t it? Photo: Jason Crowley


Everyone’s favorite flavor.


Pork and Bamboo Shoot

It's the thinking man's "Pork and Chives."
It’s the thinking man’s “Pork and Chives.” Photo: Jason Crowley


Pork and Bamboo Shoot


Fish with Pickled Vegetables

Who knew a dumpling could be so light and refreshing?
Who knew a dumpling could be so light and refreshing? Photo: Jason Crowley


Fish with Pickled Vegetables


Eight Treasures

None of he aforementioned treasures involve gold.
None of he aforementioned treasures involve gold. Photo: King Yip


Eight Treasures


Egg with Dill

Put some smoked salmon on this and you're golden.
Put some smoked salmon on this and you’re golden. Photo: King Yip


Egg with Dill


As a kid in Tianjin, You savored countless bowls of beef and tomato stew. The two ingredients, she feels, always go well together. She created this dumpling to pay homage to her childhood and grandmother, whose cooking she was raised on.

The Sloppy Joe of Chinese dumplings.
The Sloppy Joe of Chinese dumplings. Photo: Jason Crowley


As a kid in Tianjin, You savored countless bowls of beef and tomato stew. The two ingredients, she feels, always go well together. She created this dumpling to pay homage to her childhood and grandmother, whose cooking she was raised on.


The string beans are sautéed with a pinch of garlic before being mixed with the lamb.

Photo: Jason Crowley


The string beans are sautéed with a pinch of garlic before being mixed with the lamb.


Beef with Carrots

Hell yeah, beta carotene.
Hell yeah, beta carotene. Photo: Jason Crowley


Beef with Carrots


For this dumpling, You uses a small amount of crab roe to accent the fresh, subtle, and “greaseless” tofu.

Calling all vegetarian crustacean enthusiasts.
Calling all vegetarian crustacean enthusiasts. Photo: Jason Crowley


For this dumpling, You uses a small amount of crab roe to accent the fresh, subtle, and “greaseless” tofu.


Mushroom with Eggplant

Another light dumpling.
Another light dumpling. Photo: Jason Crowley


Mushroom with Eggplant


Pork With Preserved Egg, Pan-fried

The preserved egg has an almost cheese-like flavor.
The preserved egg has an almost cheese-like flavor. Photo: Jason Crowley


Pork With Preserved Egg, Pan-fried


Egg and Cucumber

For all of her egg dumplings, You scrambles them for the fluffy, tender texture.
For all of her egg dumplings, You scrambles them for the fluffy, tender texture. Photo: Jason Crowley


Egg and Cucumber


Two types of seafood highly prized in China, fish and scallop, are combined for this dumpling.

Seafood blockbuster.
Seafood blockbuster. Photo: Jason Crowley


Two types of seafood highly prized in China, fish and scallop, are combined for this dumpling.


Lamb and Green Pepper

It's got a little bit of color.
It’s got a little bit of color. Photo: Jason Crowley


Lamb and Green Pepper


Pork with Corn

It's like bacon-corn chowder in dumpling form.
It’s like bacon-corn chowder in dumpling form. Photo: King Yip


Pork with Corn


You uses fish roe in this dumpling not just for its texture and salty flavor, which complements the mild cod well, but because “it looks beautiful.”

Looks matter.
Looks matter. Photo: King Yip


You uses fish roe in this dumpling not just for its texture and salty flavor, which complements the mild cod well, but because “it looks beautiful.”


Pork and Dill

Whoa.
Whoa. Photo: Jason Crowley


Pork and Dill


Preserved Egg and Pine Nut

Other than the dumpling skin, this one is totally Paleo.
Other than the dumpling skin, this one is totally Paleo. Photo: Jason Crowley


Preserved Egg and Pine Nut


Chinese yam is a white tuber that’s sometimes rare to find here, because it is difficult to cultivate.

Yam bam thank you ... shrimp?
Yam bam thank you … shrimp? Photo: Jason Crowley


Chinese yam is a white tuber that’s sometimes rare to find here, because it is difficult to cultivate.


Hawthorn and Nuts

Nuts for nuts: The dumpling.
Nuts for nuts: The dumpling. Photo: Jason Crowley


Hawthorn and Nuts


Lamb and Squash

Green squash, ground lamb.
Green squash, ground lamb. Photo: Jason Crowley


Lamb and Squash


Lamb and Celery

Celery squared.
Celery squared. Photo: Jason Crowley


Lamb and Celery


You is devoted to lotus root for its “special crunchy texture,” which she felt would make a great complement to tender fish.

Go ahead and eat the lotus (root).
Go ahead and eat the lotus (root). Photo: Jason Crowley


You is devoted to lotus root for its “special crunchy texture,” which she felt would make a great complement to tender fish.


A bonanza of vegetables are tightly packed into this dumpling, including bamboo shoots, bok choy, cabbage, celery, corn, mushrooms, carrots, and spinach.

Dun du du duh du dudu dun duh du Bonanza!
Dun du du duh du dudu dun duh du Bonanza! Photo: Jason Crowley


A bonanza of vegetables are tightly packed into this dumpling, including bamboo shoots, bok choy, cabbage, celery, corn, mushrooms, carrots, and spinach.


Another essential pick. For this, You seasons the beef with homemade chile oil and a little bit of cumin. While cumin is quite popular in Tianjin, as it is in much of northern China, the dumpling is actually most in demand among her Indian friends and customers.

Looks matter.
Looks matter. Photo: Jason Crowley


Another essential pick. For this, You seasons the beef with homemade chile oil and a little bit of cumin. While cumin is quite popular in Tianjin, as it is in much of northern China, the dumpling is actually most in demand among her Indian friends and customers.

This is where the magic happens.
This is where the magic happens. Photo: Jason Crowley


The Dumpling Galaxy storefront.

Dumpling Galaxy, 42-35 Main St., nr. Franklin Ave., Flushing; 718-461-0808


Related: A Guide to All the Wings at Seoul Chicken, NYC’s Newest Korean-Fried-Chicken Destination

Here Are 33 Different Kinds of Dumplings From NYC’s Newest Dumpling