A good soup dumpling is a small test of skill. The wrapper has to be thin enough to bite through but strong enough to hold a spoonful of hot broth until it reaches your spoon.
New Jersey has quietly built up a solid lineup of spots that pass that test, from Shanghainese specialists along Route 1 to a trendy dumpling bar off Route 10. Some are tiny counters with a short menu, while others turn out noodles, scallion pancakes, and pan-fried buns alongside their xiao long bao.
This list covers six places spread from Bergen County down to Cherry Hill, so there is a good chance one sits within a short drive of you. Each stop earns its spot for a different reason, whether that is a crab and pork filling, a full vegan menu, or late hours.
Grab a spoon, mind the first bite, and save this one for your next craving.
1. Dim Sum House 上海一号, Cherry Hill Township, NJ
South Jersey dumpling fans do not have to cross the bridge into Philadelphia for a proper xiao long bao. Dim Sum House sits on Brace Road in Cherry Hill and focuses on Shanghainese cooking, with soup dumplings as the headline act.
The Crabmeat and Pork Soup Dumplings come six to an order, and the broth inside leans thick and savory. Grilled bao are another strong pick here, with a fluffy, creamy bite.
Beyond the steamer basket, the menu stretches wide. Beef scallion pancake, eggplant with garlic sauce, Taiwanese-style noodles, and the House Special Rice Cake all show up on tables, and there is a full vegetarian menu too.
I like this one for an early lunch, since doors open at 10:30 AM every day and breakfast and brunch are on the table. Thursday mornings tend to be the quietest, while Saturday evenings get busy.
The space is clean, casual, and calm, with high chairs, free Wi-Fi, and a good tea selection. Parking is free and usually easy to find, which is a nice bonus in a busy shopping area.
2. Dumpling House, Warren, NJ
Handmade dumplings and poke bowls on the same menu is not a pairing you see every day. That mix is exactly what sets Dumpling House in Warren apart from the other stops here.
This small Somerset County eatery on Washington Valley Road keeps things casual and quiet. You can order at the counter or sit down, and it works well for a solo lunch or a group dinner.
The soup dumplings have improved over time, and they now hit the right texture, with broth that rushes out on the first bite. It is a good sign when a kitchen keeps fine-tuning a dish until it lands.
Plan around the schedule. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8:30 PM and closed on Sundays, and it does not offer delivery, so takeout or dine-in are the options.
Monday and Tuesday mornings are the calmest, and free parking makes a quick stop simple.
3. Ugly Dumpling, Morris Plains, NJ
Any restaurant willing to call its own food ugly is clearly confident about the flavor. Ugly Dumpling, in a Route 10 plaza in Morris Plains, leans into a trendy, contemporary take on Chinese comfort food.
Soup dumplings come in several varieties, and the Pork and Crab version is the one to start with. The broth inside is rich and full of flavor.
The appetizer list gets creative, too. Cream Cheese Rangoon, Ugly Ramen, Braised Beef Noodle Soup, Pork Chop Fried Rice, and Kung Pao Chicken round out a menu built for sharing.
Hours run later than most spots on this list, until 10 PM most nights and 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. That makes it a smart pick after a movie or a late shift.
Vegetarians get a full menu, including string beans with garlic. The crowd skews mixed and welcoming, with families, groups, and solo diners all fitting in, and parking is free.
4. Soup Dumpling Plus, Fort Lee, NJ
Show up after 6 PM on a Friday and expect company. Soup Dumpling Plus on Lemoine Avenue is one of Fort Lee’s busier dumpling counters, and a wait is common.
The good news is that reservations are accepted, so a quick call ahead can save time.
The name says what matters most here. The Steam Pork Soup Dumplings have thin skins, plenty of broth, and a well-seasoned filling, and they are the reason most tables are full.
The plus part of the name covers a lot of ground. Pan Fried Pork Buns, scallion noodles, hot and sour soup, Tofu with Crab Meat, Jumbo Shrimp Ginger Scallion, and a sliced beef pancake all deserve a look.
It also stands out for plant-based diners, with both full vegan and vegetarian menus. The eggplant with garlic sauce is a vegan option that pairs well with a basket of dumplings.
Hours run 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM daily. Parking includes both free and paid options nearby, and the room is casual with high chairs for little ones.
5. LaoWu Authentic ShangHai Dumpling, Edison, NJ
Route 1 in Edison is packed with Asian restaurants, and this small Shanghainese spot holds its own against all of them. LaoWu specializes in two Shanghai classics: soup dumplings and pan-fried pork buns.
The xiao long bao have wrappers at just the right thickness and a generous pour of broth that stays flavorful without getting too salty. That balance is harder to find than you might think.
Hungry for more than dumplings? The menu goes deep into Shanghai home cooking, with Lion’s Head Noodle Soup, Shanghai Spicy Minced Pork Noodle Soup, Shanghai pan fried noodle, and Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce.
Lighter sides include cucumber with scallion and chive boxes. For dessert, the Floral Eight Treasure Taro Pudding is a fun, traditional finish.
Note the day off, since LaoWu is closed on Wednesdays. Other days it runs 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, service is fast, and weekend evenings usually bring a wait, so a Monday night visit is the calmer bet.
6. Nan Xiang Express – Princeton, NJ, Lawrence Township, NJ
Nan Xiang is a name tied closely to soup dumplings, and this Express location brings that focus to the Princeton area. You will find it on Brunswick Pike, better known to locals as Route 1, in Lawrence Township.
The Nan Xiang Pork Soup Dumplings arrive six to an order, with thin wrappers and a rich, savory broth. The noodles hold up well too, with a texture that makes the Shanghai stir fried noodle a strong second order.
Other menu picks include beef scallion pancake, Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs with broccoli, Nan Xiang fried rice, and a garlicky cold cucumber salad. Full vegan and vegetarian menus mean nobody at the table gets left out.
I would save this one for a weeknight dinner, since it stays open until 10 PM every day and tends to be quiet outside of Friday and Saturday evenings. Catering is available as well, which is handy for office lunches or parties.
Free parking and both counter and table service keep the visit easy.
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