Dumplings & Tea is open now in Chesterfield

Dumplings & Tea offers a variety of traditional dumplings and bao.

Newly opened Dumplings & Tea in Chesterfield has a passion for preserving tradition. The restaurant offers an expansive and enticing array of beloved Chinese classics like dumplings, bao, milk tea and more.

Dumplings & Tea's dumplings.

When it came to opening a business, the profit margin was one of the last things on owners Weiquan Jiang, Yanlai Zhang and Zixuan Hu’s minds. “To us, it is also about sharing and making friends,” Hu says. “We really appreciate what the community has brought us, so we would love to have a place that shares authentic foods from our country.”

Originally hailing from different sectors of China, the trio had a deep desire to bring food from their hometowns with them to the St. Louis area. This is not the team’s first stint in the industry; Jiang has over 16 years of experience in the business with a few successful eateries under his belt. This new venture allows the three to expand on already popular menus, filling a gap in traditional Chinese eateries in Chesterfield – starting with dumplings. “They’re not terrible to prepare or make, the cooking process is not too hard or too long and, most importantly, they just taste too good to be missed out on by you guys,” Hu says.

Dumplings & Tea.

Dumpling choices change by season, but no matter the time of year, the selection is always vast. When it comes to narrowing down the menu, Jiang, Zhang, and Hu focus on fresh seasonal ingredients. There are currently over 20 varieties of dumplings to choose from with fillings like pork, shrimp, cabbage and tofu. “We have so many choices that can meet people's needs, and we are using organic vegetables as colors to put in the dough to differentiate the flavors,” Hu says. He adds that the chive dumplings are his personal favorite. “They’re traditional and flavorful, [and] it is hard to find chive dumplings here [in St. Louis],” he says. The restaurant also offers dumplings in the form of dessert, which are filled with sweets, deep fried and topped with powdered sugar. The trio developed these sweets after hundreds of rounds of trial and error.

Dumplings & Tea's milk tea.

The drink selection is equally extensive, making it a challenging task for customers to select just one from the restaurant's numerous milk tea options. You’ll see standard flavors like brown sugar, strawberry and taro, but consider stepping outside the box with one of Dumplings & Tea’s more unique offerings, like Ocean Blue Flower or Uji matcha with red bean. Every drink has the option for add-ins, so don't forget to add boba, star jelly or caramel pudding to your beverage.

Dumplings & Tea's poke bowl.

And Dumplings & Tea offers so much more than just its namesake dishes. Prioritizing inclusiveness and authenticity, the owners expanded their menu to encompass a range of preferences. The poke bowl is one of the restaurant’s most-ordered items and features a choice of two proteins, five vegetables, additional toppings and homemade sauces for under $15. Bao is another popular offering, inspired by the culinary traditions of northern China. Encased in soft, pillowy dough, the buns enclose succulent meat and vegetable fillings that range from flavors like beef to green beans. “This is definitely a wonderful childhood memory for me,” Hu says. The traditional pork buns stand out as the restaurant's best seller.

Dumplings & Tea's crab rangoon.

If nothing above suits your fancy, you’re still in luck. From ramen and udon to crab rangoon, egg rolls and invigorating smoothies, this establishment undeniably caters to a wide range of preferences.

Although the team would like to open more locations in the future, their current focus is expanding on the current menu in Chesterfield. “For now, we are still focusing on creating better dumplings and bao recipes,” Hu says. “And hopefully our dream will come true in the near future.”

Dumplings & Tea, 137 Chesterfield Towne Center, Chesterfield, Missouri, 636-778-9090, dumplingstea.com

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