National Dumpling Day

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: Cooking Food
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every September 26
Holiday emoji:: 🥟

National Dumpling Day arrives every September 26, inviting everyone to celebrate the universal joy of these delightful dough pockets. Whether steamed, fried, boiled, or baked, dumplings offer a taste of comfort and culinary tradition. Explore new recipes, visit a local eatery, or host a dumpling-making party with friends and family!

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected National Dumpling Day Deals

As National Dumpling Day approaches, expect a delightful array of promotions from national chains and local eateries. While we await official 2027 announcements, previous years have seen deals from popular spots like P.F. Chang’s offering appetizer specials, Panda Express with family meal discounts, and various Asian restaurants providing buy-one-get-one deals on their signature dumplings. Frozen dumpling brands such as Bibigo and Ling Ling often run grocery store promotions, making it easy to celebrate at home. Look for special menus at local Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Eastern European restaurants. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as September 26 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Dumpling Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalDumplingDay. Share your favorite dumpling recipes, cooking hacks, or a ‘dumpling crawl’ through your city.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalDumplingDay. Post mouth-watering photos or reels of your dumpling creations or restaurant finds.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalDumplingDay. Share family dumpling traditions or local restaurant recommendations with your community.

National Dumpling Day Hero

Zhang Zhongjing

Zhang Zhongjing, a revered physician of the Eastern Han Dynasty (c. 150–219 AD), is often credited with inventing jiaozi, the precursor to modern Chinese dumplings. Legend says he created these medicinal dumplings to protect people from frostbite during winter, filling them with mutton and warming herbs. His innovative approach to food as medicine laid a foundation for culinary traditions that continue to this day, making him a foundational figure in dumpling history.

National Dumpling Day timeline

3600 BC

The Swiss made dumplings

Archaeological evidence suggestions the Swiss baked dumplings from flour, cereal, and water more than 5,600 years ago.

25 BC

The Western world got a dumpling recipe

Marcus Gavius Apicus, who produced the first known Western text to include a dumpling recipe, was born.

225 AD

The Chinese invented dumplings

According to Chinese legend, dumplings were invented in the Three Kingdoms era.

1300s

The world's first ravioli

Italian ravioli originated in Tuscany and Venice in the 14th century.

1976

"The Apple Dumpling Gang"

Actor Bill Bixby starred in this Disney comedy-western film set during the California Gold Rush.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Dumpling Day

Local businesses can embrace National Dumpling Day by offering special promotions and engaging with their community. Restaurants, especially Asian eateries, can feature limited-time dumpling platters, offer cooking classes, or host a ‘dumpling flight’ tasting menu. Grocery stores might create displays of international dumpling varieties and offer discounts on ingredients for homemade dumplings. Even non-food businesses could participate by sharing fun facts about dumplings on social media or sponsoring a local dumpling festival. Encourage customers to share their favorite dumpling experiences using #NationalDumplingDay.

National Dumpling Day FAQs

When is National Dumpling Day?

National Dumpling Day 2026 falls on Saturday, September 26, offering a perfect weekend opportunity to indulge in your favorite doughy delights.

How many types of dumplings are there?

Globally, there are hundreds of distinct dumpling types, each reflecting local ingredients and culinary traditions. From Chinese jiaozi and Italian ravioli to Polish pierogi and Indian modak, the variations are nearly endless.

What is the most popular dumpling in the world?

While difficult to definitively crown one ‘most popular,’ Chinese jiaozi (potstickers or boiled dumplings) are arguably the most widely consumed, given China’s vast population and the dish’s cultural significance during holidays like Lunar New Year.

What is the difference between a dumpling and a potsticker?

A potsticker is a specific type of Chinese dumpling (jiaozi) that is pan-fried on one side until crispy, then steamed in the same pan with a bit of water. All potstickers are dumplings, but not all dumplings are potstickers.

National Dumpling Day Activities

Grab a cookbook
Find a dumpling recipe you’ve never heard of (Coxinhas, anyone? Clootie dumplings? Maultaschen?). Then grab and apron and learn something new.
Go out for Chinese food
Honor the National Dumpling Day founders by sitting down to an authentic Chinese meal. Gold star if you can fit a different one into each course.
Hop on social media
Snap a pic of your creation (or your meal out), and post it to social media with #NationalDumplingDay. Then click the hashtag, and see how others are celebrating, too.

5 Dessert Dumpling Ideas For Fall

Stop by the apple orchard
Apple dumplings are said to have originated in Norfolk, United Kingdom.
Do you dampfnudel?
This sweet dumpling hails from Germany, Austria, and France.
Switch it up for Turkey Day
This Thanksgiving, serve your sweet potatoes in dumpling form.
Try tangyuan
These Chinese sweet dumplings include sesame seeds, candied ginger, and crushed nuts.
Don’t forget the sauce
Dip your dumplings in butterscotch, caramel, honey, or chocolate.

Why We Love National Dumpling Day

You can celebrate all day
Try sausage and egg breakfast dumplings first, Chinese steamed dumplings for lunch, pierogi for dinner, and apple dumplings for dessert. Or what about bacon, egg, and cheese dumplings for breakfast, matzo ball soup for lunch, chicken and dumplings for dinner, and maple syrup dumplings for dessert. Or what about …
Dumpling day is literally rooted in happiness
TMI Food Group is this day’s founder, and TMI’s mission is about joy. Simply put? “To make people happy.”
Everyone has a dumpling in their past
The Chinese might be most associated with these doughy treats, but nearly every culture has small balls of dough that you fry, boil, or use in a casserole. Africans steam banku and kenkey. Indians make ada and modak with coconut and sugar. Nepalese serve momos with tomatoes and chilies.