Black vinegar and soy sauceMix the two in a small dish and let each person adjust the balance.
Chili crispSpoon a little onto the crisp side, or stir it into the soy dip.
Miso dipping sauceLoosen the miso with a little vinegar so it clings without clumping.
PonzuA sharp citrus dip that suits a vegetable or shrimp filling.
Rice vinegar with black pepperGrind in more pepper than seems right, and leave the soy sauce out.
Sesame paste sauceThin it until it runs off a spoon, then drizzle it over the plate.
Soy sauce, rice vinegar and chili oilSet out the three bottles and let everyone stir their own dish.
Sweet chili sauceA mild, sweet dip for anyone who finds vinegar too sharp.
Soups and porridge 5
Clear broth with greensLadle it into cups for sipping between bites.
Egg drop soupMild and quick, a calm bowl next to a garlicky filling.
Hot and sour soupServe a small bowl first, while the potstickers crisp in the pan.
RamenPut the plate beside the bowl and share the potstickers across the table.
Rice porridge (congee)Keep the bowl plain and let the dumplings and their dip season it.
Rice and noodles 3
Fried riceKeep it plain, with egg and scallion, since the filling brings the flavor.
Scallion oil noodlesToss the noodles while they are hot and pile them next to the dumplings.
Steamed riceA bowl each, with a spoonful of the dipping sauce over the top.
Vegetables, eggs and cold plates 11
Celery and peanut saladCrunchy and cold, with a few drops of sesame oil.
EdamameSalt the pods and set them out to pick at while the dumplings cook.
Napa cabbage slaw with sesame dressingShred it fine and dress it just before it goes to the table.
Shredded potato stir-fry with vinegarTake it off the heat while the shreds still have some bite.
Smashed cucumber saladMake it first and chill it, so it is cold when the pan is hot.
Stir-fried bok choyCook it in the same pan once the potstickers are out.
Stir-fried pea shootsGarlic, a hot pan, and off the heat while still bright green.
Tea eggsMake them the day before and serve them halved.
Tofu skin saladCut it into ribbons and toss with cucumber and a little chili oil.
Tomato and egg stir-frySoft and a little sweet, a gentle plate next to a sharp dip.
Wood ear mushroom saladDress it with vinegar and garlic and serve it cold.
More dumplings and small plates 5
Pork and shrimp shumaiSteam a few for a second shape and texture on the table.
Rice noodle rollsPour a little seasoned soy sauce over them at the table.
Scallion pancakesCut them into wedges and dip them in the same sauce.
Soup dumplings (xiaolongbao)Steam a basket to share and lift each one onto a spoon.
Turnip cakePan-fry the slices until the edges brown.
Something sweet after 3
Almond jellyCube it and spoon fruit over the top.
Mango puddingServe it cold, in small cups.
Sweet red bean soupWarm on a cold night, chilled on a hot one.
Drinks 3
Jasmine teaBrew a pot and keep it on the table through the meal.
Pu-erh teaA pot for the end of the meal, once the plates are cleared.
Soy milkWarm and lightly sweetened, for a breakfast plate.
How it works
What to eat with potstickers starts with the dip: black vinegar and soy sauce is the traditional one. These 38 ideas add soups, vegetables, cold plates, rice, noodles and tea, for potstickers, gyoza and other pan-fried dumplings.
Read the full guide
What to eat potstickers with, by custom
Dumplings of this kind never come without a sauce for dipping. They are eaten at breakfast, lunch or dinner, as an appetizer, a side order or the main course, and they can come with a soup or in one. At roadside breakfast restaurants in China they are prepared alongside xiaolongbao, the soup dumplings on this list.
What to eat with gyoza
Gyoza are the Japanese version of the same dumpling. Their usual dip is a soy-based sauce with chili oil or rice vinegar as seasoning. In Japan, many ramen shops sell pan-fried gyoza as a side, which is why a bowl of ramen is on this list.
Mix the dip before the pan goes on. Potstickers lose their crunch while they wait.
Serve them crisp side up, so the steam does not soften the crust.
Questions and answers
What do you eat with potstickers for dinner?
Make them the main course and add three things: a soup such as hot and sour or egg drop, a cold plate such as smashed cucumber salad, and fried rice or scallion oil noodles.
What sauce goes with potstickers?
Beyond black vinegar and soy sauce, the dip may hold garlic, ginger, sesame oil or something hot, such as chili crisp. Ponzu and sweet chili sauce are milder, and rice vinegar with black pepper needs no soy sauce at all.
What to eat gyoza with besides ramen?
In Europe, Japanese restaurants serve gyoza as a starter, or as a main dish with rice. At home, steamed rice, a clear broth with greens, edamame and a cabbage slaw with sesame dressing make a full plate.
What do you eat with pot stickers for breakfast?
Rice porridge, tea eggs and warm soy milk turn a plate of pot stickers into breakfast.