Wrapping any food in dough almost always improves that food exponentially. And almost every culture has their own take on dough-wrapped food. Sometimes its in the form of dumplings, others in savory pies, but as long as we get that crunchy, flaky bite of dough mixed with filling, we’re good. These are some of our favorite dough-wrapped dishes in the Greater Cleveland area.
Xiao Long Bao at LJ Shanghai
3142 Superior Ave., Cleveland
LJ Shanghai made a splash in Asia Town in 2017 when they opened as the first true dumpling restaurant in Cleveland. Poke a hole in their dumplings, or Xao Long Bao, let a little soup drip out onto your soup spoon, and then take the dumplings down in one bite. Thank us later.
Photo via Scene ArchivesVeggie Dumplings at Xinji Noodle Bar
4211 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
While a bowl of ramen is what draws in most diners to this Ohio City noodle bar, don’t sleep on the dumplings. The spicy pork are awesome and the veggie are just as great. This crispy dumpling, stuffed with tofu and spice and a gochujang sauce, these pair perfectly with a steaming hot bowl of ramen.
Photo by Emanuel WallacePupusas at Pupuseria Katarina
1409 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland
Authentic El Salvadoran cuisine in Cleveland? Sign us up. Naturally, Pupuseria Katarina excels at El Salvadoran pupusas, thick corn pancakes stuffed with various fillings and fried on a griddle. They offer a full slate of options, from simple cheese to “Pupusa Loca”, which is kind of like the kitchen sink version stuffed with every filling on the menu. Simpler is better, in my opinion, with cheese or maybe cheese, beans and pork rising to the top. Fried to order, the pupusas arrive hot, crisp and corny.
Photo via Scene ArchivesSamosas at Annapurna
7464 Ridge Rd., Parma
Annapurna has moved to the top of our list when it comes to South Indian food in Cleveland. And the first dumpling that comes to mind in Indian cuisine is always the samosa, a crispy pastry/potatoes/green peas which Annapurna knocks out of the park. In addition to samosas, Annapurna serves three other types of stuffed dough. Pakora is stuffed with mixed veggies and deep fried, a puff is puff pastry filled with green peas and potatoes and khasta kachori are fried puffed pastry filled with spices. Try them all.
Photo via KSPoddar/FlickrEmpanadas at Half Moon Bakery
3460 West 25th St., Cleveland
After more than three years of pop-ups and catering, in 2020, Half Moon Bakery finally unveiled its brick-and-mortar bakery in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, located across the street from MetroHealth. The carry-out empanada shop features the signature half-moon-shaped pastries, stuffed with flavor-packed combinations such as shredded chicken with garlic tomato sauce, tofu with seasoned veggies, and pepperoni, mozzarella and tomato sauce, along with sandwiches, fresh bread, pastries and cakes.
Photo by Emanuel WallaceLumpia at Mely’s Kainan
5382 State Rd., Cleveland
Just three miles away from the Philippine American Cultural Center in Parma, Mely’s offers a welcome taste of home for the large and growing number of Filipino expats living in and around Cleveland. This isn’t fancy food, but rather the kinds of soul-satisfying dishes Filipino families have been making and enjoying at home for decades. Lumpia is a traditional Filipino spring roll. Mely’s has them just with veggies, and with ground pork and veggies. They also serve a tasty fried banana spring roll known as a turon.
Photo via Scene ArchivesPretzel Dog at Larder
1455 West 29th St., Cleveland
At its heart, Larder is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, out of this world fried chicken sandwiches and awesome baked goods. But there’s so much more going on here than that. The beloved Hingetown Deli elevates every item they make and that includes their pretzel dog. Wrapped in buttery, flaky dough and stuffed with an all-beef hotdog, the pretzel dog is one of a number of awesome offerings that Larder occasionally adds to their ever-changing menu.
Photo via LarderB/InstagramSigara Böre?i at Anatolia Cafe
2270 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
A little bit Greek, a little bit Middle Eastern and perhaps even slightly northern Indian, the names, ingredients and flavor notes of Anatolia’s authentic Turkish cuisine will strike familiar chords for veteran tabletop travelers. Sigara Boregi is a light pastry dough filled with a blend of feta cheese and fresh herbs and one of a number of awesome dishes on Anatolia’s menu.
Photo via Anatolia Cafe/Facebook Credit: Scene ArchivesMeat Pies at Tommy’s Restaurant
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights
Known for their vegetarian and healthy options, this Coventry Road staple has been serving up Clevelanders since 1972. While they had vegetarian and vegan options before those became popular, they also serve up a bunch of meat pies. Some of our favorites are the Gordon, a meat pie with cheese, corned beef, bbq sauce, mushrooms and veggies and the PR with muenster cheese, falafel, sesame sauce and veggies. Think a combination of a mini pot pie and a calzone but with Tommy’s twist on it. And don’t worry, of course they have escarole, potato and spinach pies for those that leave the meat and cheese on the side.
Photo via Tommy’s Restaurant/FacebookFried Mozzarella at Maxi’s
12113 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland
Like an old friend, Maxi’s is always there when you need her. For over 15 years, this romantic Little Italy gem has been keeping neighbors and visitors happy the easy way: by dishing up consistently delicious plates of soul satisfying Italian foods. And what can be better than fried dough with melted cheese smothered in homemade marinara? It may be simple but sometimes simple is best.
Photo via Maxi’s In Little Italy/FacebookRavioli at Etna
11919 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland
This romantic, tightly packed Little Italy spot is one of the best Italian restaurants in town and just looks like a place that serves great ravioli. Whether you’re looking for a seafood, veggie or cheese stuffed pasta, you’re in luck here. The aragosta is a lobster ravioli, the tre formaggi is stuffed with ricotta cheese and portobello mushroom and the spinaci-rose is stuffed with spinach and ricotta in a cream sauce and you really can’t go wrong with any of the three.
Photo via Etna Ristorante/FacebookBBQ Pork Buns at Koko Bakery
3710 Payne Ave., Cleveland and 1767 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights
For more than 15 years, Koko Bakery has lured Asian food fans to its downtown store for fresh-baked buns, colorful fruit tarts, cakes and pastries, hot lunches and delicious bubble tea. The popular bakery has an assortment of sweet baked goods and maybe the best bubble tea in town but if you’re looking for a savory meal here, you really can’t go wrong with the BBQ pork buns. The pastry is golden brown, filled with pork that’s covered with a sweet and savory barbecue sauce for a tasty afternoon snack or small meal.
Photo via Scene ArchivesPupusas at Pupuseria Katarina
1409 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland
Authentic El Salvadoran cuisine in Cleveland? Sign us up. Naturally, Pupuseria Katarina excels at El Salvadoran pupusas, thick corn pancakes stuffed with various fillings and fried on a griddle. They offer a full slate of options, from simple cheese to “Pupusa Loca”, which is kind of like the kitchen sink version stuffed with every filling on the menu. Simpler is better, in my opinion, with cheese or maybe cheese, beans and pork rising to the top. Fried to order, the pupusas arrive hot, crisp and corny.
Photo via Scene ArchivesPan Fried Pork Dumplings at Siam Cafe
3951 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland
Neat, tidy, and friendly, this multicultural restaurant in the heart of Asia Town serves an enormous variety of authentic Asian eats. The pan fried pork dumplings are perfectly crispy on the outside and the meat and veggies mixed together are an awesome combination.
Photo via @Mayepaz/InstagramLuca
2100 Superior Viaduct., Cleveland
One of the best Italian restaurants in town also contains one of the best views of the city. The sacchetti, which contains white truffles over ricotta stuffed pasta shells, may sound heavy for the summer but you have to get it while sitting on the patio at this Superior Viaduct located spot.
Photo via Luca Italian Cuisine/FacebookBeef Patty at Irie Jamaican Kitchen
621 E. 185th St., Euclid and 4162 Pearl Rd., Cleveland
This beloved Jamaican spot, which recently opened a second location in Old Brooklyn in addition to their original Euclid location, achieves an ideal balance between authentic and unique when it comes to their tasty cuisine. If you’re looking for something in dough, try the Jamaican beef patty. Similar to an empanada, this flaky, golden brown pastry stuffed with ground meat is a perfect pairing with any entree.
Photo via Irie Jamaican Kitchen/FacebookSpicy Sauerkraut Balls at Der Braumeister
13046 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
What started as a speakeasy in 1925 still serves up some of the best German fare in Cleveland. In fact, they’ve been given that title multiple times now according to Scene’s Best Of Cleveland. German food just seems like it should have some sort of dumpling and fear not, these sauerkraut balls here are a scrumptious appetizer before your schnitzel or bratwurst. They’re stuffed with potato and served with curry ketchup and beer cheese.
Photo via Der Braumeister/FacebookPierogies at Pierogi Palace
36495 Vine St., Willoughby and 1979 West 25th St., Cleveland
This bakery is certainly the spot when it comes to the Polish dumpling. The variety of pierogies sold here is second to none, with up to 20 flavors at once including chicken pot pie, taco, Italian meatball, buffalo chicken, apricot cheese and much, much more. In addition to the pierogies, the Pierogi Palace also has an awesome Polish Boy, stuffed cabbage, cabbage and noodles and more.
Photo via Pierogi Palace/FacebookKnishes at Corky and Lenny’s
27091 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Village
The iconic Jewish deli, known for their offerings like corned beef, matzoh ball soup and many more wonderful dishes has been going strong in the Eastern Suburbs since 1956. Modeled after famous New York delicatessens like Katz’s and the Carnegie Deli, Corky’s remains a beloved institution and any old school deli must have knishes. A knish is basically just fried dough filled with potato. Corky’s also serves them with corned beef, turkey and beef.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/KorticaCalzone at Scotti’s Italian Eatery
882 East 185th St., Cleveland
This Italian eatery in Colinwood has long been one of the more underrated Italian restaurants in town. We love their calzones and who wouldn’t? Whatever you choose to stuff your fried dough with, go for it. They have eggplant and ricotta, meatball, pepperoni and cheese, caprese with prosciutto and a whole lot of other tasty options.
Photo via Scotti’s Italian Eatery/FacebookPierogis at Prosperity Social Club
1109 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland
Ask a local what their favorite pierogi in town is and there’s a more than solid chance that they mention Prosperity Social Club. Straight to the point, these pierogis, much like the working class bar/restaurant where they are served, are without fluff and served with sour cream and sauteed onions. Just how they should be.
Photo via @ProsperitySocialClub/InstagramCorndogs at Banter
3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights
For a stand at a food hall, Banter certainly has its fair share of die hard customers. While the frites, poutine and Polish boy are the stars of the menu, the corndogs are just as good. We’re partial to the original but there’s also a tasty veggie corn dog served with plant-based hot dog and a Mexican Street corndog served with tajin and queso blanco if you’re looking for a little kick.
Photo via Banter/FacebookRelleno de Papas and Alcapurria at Rincón Criollo
6504 Detroit Ave., and 7403 Dennison Ave., Cleveland
Offerings of Puerto Rican cuisine here reflect African, Indian and American influences. Fritters are popular, and Rincón’s appetizer list features two kinds of stuffed dough: relleno de papas (potato balls) and alcapurria (banana balls). And they’re both phenomenal.
Photo via Rincón Criollo/FacebookDim Sum Dumplings at Li Wah
2999 Payne Ave., Cleveland
If you’re thinking of dumplings, dim sum is where it’s at and Li Wah is the spot for dim sum in Cleveland. If you’re going for their delicious dim sum, go on a Sunday afternoon, when the variety of dishes being pushed around on carts is at its maximum. Some of their assortment of dumplings include their pork and shrimp dumplings, fried rice noodle rolls, savory pork dumplings, deep fried taro, pot stickers or sweet sesame or taro balls, this is the spot if you just want dumpling after dumpling.
Photo via Li Wah/FacebookVeal Crepe at Balaton
13133 Shaker Square, Cleveland
Talk about underappreciated. When Balaton opened a half-century ago on Buckeye Road, the primary language spoken in the dining room was Hungarian. But word of the modest restaurant’s remarkable goulash, Wiener schnitzel, and paprikash wriggled out, at first to the immediate neighborhood, and later to the city and region as a whole. Their veal crepe is filled with ground veal, chopped mushroom,and seasoned and served with paprikash gravy and sour-cream and really, what more do you need?
Photo via Balaton/FacebookMomos at Himalayan Restaurant
13124 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
Momo are Nepali-Tibetan dumplings, and they have been making quite the splash down in Columbus, where a tiny food stall tucked into a sprawling international foods warehouse is one of the top-rated eateries in the entire city. With the opening of Himalayan Restaurant in 2018, Clevelanders got to follow in Columbus’s footsteps and started adoring the exotic cuisine.
Photo Courtesy of Himalayan RestaurantShepherd’s Pie at Old Angle Tavern
1848 West 25th St., Cleveland
Dark, cozy, and handsomely accessorized, this Irish pub offers top-rate tavern fare. And what is an Irish pub without a shepherd pie. They stick pretty close to tradition here with a little touch of their own spin. The shepherd’s pie has been around since at least the 1700s so why mess with what works.
Photo via Scene Archives
