Growing up, Charlene Tan would help her mother make dumplings for family parties. “I thought it was so cool that such a tiny food could pack so much flavor and be a work of art,” Tan says. The graphic designer now makes her own meticulous works of art in Aliso Viejo; top sellers among a half-dozen rotating choices at Tan’s Dumplings are the disarming pink vegan miso cauliflower and flavor bomb pork gochujang. $3 for delivery. Inquiries and orders via @tansdumplings on Instagram
Newlyweds Candace and Allan Tea—Allan’s family runs dim sum chain Capital Seafood, and he’s managing partner at Hello Kitty Cafe—initially created Cali Dumpling Delivery to benefit hospitality workers impacted by the pandemic. Now bags of 30 hand-folded dumplings for steaming, boiling, or frying come in a dozen varieties, notably pork xiao long bao, fish dumplings, and silky egg-wrapped pork-and-shrimp wontons. Order the day before for delivery to North County on Tuesdays, and South County on Thursdays; the $10 fee goes directly to drivers. calidumplingdelivery.com
Yummi Dumplings offers 20 kinds of handcrafted dumplings, “guaranteed yummi.” Tasty options include crab-and-pork xiao long bao in regular and juicier, thin-wrapped versions; three types of shrimp-and-pork Hong Kong wontons, one featuring cut shrimp and masago; and soup-filled, pork-stuffed shaomai with a sweet little shrimp plugging the top of each tiny purse. You can also order two-layer bamboo steamers in two sizes. Daily pickup in Irvine or delivery throughout Southern California—$5 to $10 in Orange County—with 24-hour notice. yummidumplings.com
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