The Dumpling Lady, a popular spot for hand-made dumplings, noodles, and traditional Sichuan cuisine, is coming soon to the South End at 327 W. Tremont Ave.
The company’s second location will soon move into the former home of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, according to the Charlotte Observer. At the time of the announcement, The Dumpling Lady hoped to open by Winter 2022. John Nisbet started the business with his wife, Qian Zhang, in 2017 as a food truck before opening in Optimism Hall in 2019. Now the company is opening its largest location, featuring new menu items, a walk-up window, and a late-night menu. The Dumpling Lady South End is expected to open sometime this year.
“We’ve been looking to expand for a couple of years and have always had our eye on South End,” Nisbet tells the Observer. “We just love our new spot. The area has grown so fast, and we recognize lots of opportunity with the new demographic in South End.”
While the owners are still working on the new South End location, they are still looking to expand even more in the Charlotte area. The company recently announced a third location coming to the new elevated eating destination in Uptown called The Alley at Latta Arcade at 320 S Tryon Street, according to the Observer. The development is expected to open later this year and includes other tenants such as Felix Empanadas, Wentworth & Fenn, Gather Flower Studio, and more. The Dumpling Lady Uptown is expected to open in late 2023.
When these locations open later this year, customers can expect authentic recipes from Zhang’s hometown of Sichuan, China. Some popular items from the food truck and food hall include shrimp & chicken and Chengdu-style pork and scallions. The new South End location is looking to introduce new menu items, such as hui guo rou, twice-cooked pork belly with leeks and peppers.
“We don’t change the recipe for an American audience,” Nisbet tells the Observer. “We import all of the integral ingredients imported from Sichuan, and I think people appreciate that.”
