The Best New Restaurants In Austin: The Austin Hit List

"If Disney, dumplings, and the sea share anything in common, it’s that each has an entire world dedicated to their fans. Only one of them is in Austin, though. Dumpling World, a strip-mall spot located in The Triangle, has a few fried rice and noodle dishes, but the specialty is right there in the name, whether you want yours fried, boiled, or steamed. Start with classic or pan-fried soup dumplings for the table, then order an entrée of boiled dumplings swimming in spicy and sour broth. The xiao long bao have a rich, savory broth—with skin that isn’t overly thick—but the crispy base on the fried version adds great texture and density. Everything is made from scratch, so things can take a while when the restaurant gets busy. Use that time to appreciate that this trip didn’t cost you a plane ticket to Florida. " - nicolai mccrary