Discover The Dumpling Trail Unwrapped

Richmond is home to one of the largest and most diverse Asian communities in North America, and nowhere is that more evident than on the plate. For food lovers, Tourism Richmond’s Dumpling Trail serves as a delicious introduction to one of Canada’s most dynamic culinary scenes.

This self-guided, year-round food trail brings together a curated selection of 16 restaurants and food court stalls, each showcasing their own take on dumplings, with many of the featured businesses being family-run establishments founded by immigrant entrepreneurs who brought recipes and traditions from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan and across Asia. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to sample everything from crispy pan-fried potstickers to delicate shrimp har gow, Uyghur-style lamb dumplings and beyond, making the Dumpling Trail an easy way to navigate Richmond’s remarkably dense restaurant landscape, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a local looking to discover a new favourite.

A food that’s long been shared across generations and communities, the dumpling has become one of the most approachable entry points into Richmond’s broader food culture, and this trail is a chance to see how a single dish can take on dozens of regional interpretations within a single city.

Diners can now visit participating restaurants, scan a unique QR code to watch exclusive insider videos within The Dumpling Trail Unwrapped digital experience, and unlock rewards for merch and a chance to be entered into a contest.

To streamline the experience, create a free account when you scan your first QR code. Each insider video you watch unlocks a reward and is automatically logged and tracked on the platform as you go. Visit three different participating restaurants to qualify for Dumpling Trail merchandise like a hat or tote bag. Watch five or more videos for a chance to win a Richmond culinary staycation, including a one-night stay in Richmond, a food tour and dining experience for two.

As someone who never needs much convincing to gorge on dumplings, the launch felt like the perfect excuse to revisit some of my favourite spots, some of which I’ve been returning to for more than a decade.

Bánh Mì Très Bon

My first stop was Bánh Mì Très Bon, a modern Vietnamese restaurant known for putting a refined spin on classic street food. On every table, you’ll find a QR code that unlocks a short insider video hosted by local food tour guide David Peng. Rather than simply highlighting menu items, the videos take diners behind the scenes, offering a glimpse into the kitchen, the techniques used to prepare the food, and the ingredients that help define each restaurant’s dumplings.

The featured dumpling at Bánh Mì Très Bon is the bánh bột lọc, a steamed tapioca dumpling filled with pork and shrimp and topped with green onions and crispy shallots, served alongside fish sauce for dipping. The video also highlighted several other crowd favourite dishes, including the phở tái bò viên, a bowl of grass-fed beef tenderloin, beef balls, bone marrow, and noodles served in a broth simmered for 24 hours. Another dish was the bánh khọt, bite-sized savoury rice-flour pancakes with crisp edges and a soft centre. Guided by a seasoned food critic, these suggestions are especially helpful, whether you’re pairing them with your dumplings or saving them for a future visit.

Yuu Japanese Tapas

My next stop was Yuu Japanese Tapas, a longtime Richmond favourite that blends the laidback feel of a Japanese izakaya with a wide-ranging menu of comfort dishes, like ramen, rice bowls, and small plates like okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake, and deep-fried tofu.

After scanning the QR code at the table, I pulled up another short insider video, which helped guide my order while offering a closer look at how some of the kitchen’s staples come together. One highlight was the restaurant’s gyoza, with the video breaking down the technique behind its juicy filling and crisp, pan-seared edges. It also spotlighted a few playful menu items, including beer ramen, a chilled ramen served in a bonito broth and presented in a beer stein, reflecting the kitchen’s creative approach to familiar dishes.

R&H Chinese Food

The final stop on my self-guided route was R&H Chinese Food, a long-running, family-run stall situated inside the Lansdowne Centre food court. It’s a go-to for regulars who come specifically for the xiao long bao—classic Shanghai-style soup dumplings known for their delicate wrappers and rich, steaming broth. Here too, the QR code video offered a behind-the-scenes look at how the dumplings are made, highlighting folding techniques and the careful sealing that keeps the soup intact until the first bite. It also pointed me toward another house specialty: boiled pork dumplings with chives, a simple but satisfying staple that rounds out the stall’s well-loved menu.

Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Tourism Richmond