There are few things winter rewards quite so generously as a steaming plate of dumplings, and few dishes we return to with such reliable devotion. Whether pleated by hand or pan-fried to a lacy crisp, folded around pork and chive or something more inventive, these little parcels have a way of turning an ordinary evening into an occasion worth gathering for. The city serves them in every register, from the cheap and cheerful holes-in-the-wall where a plate costs less than your parking, to the polished dining rooms giving the humble dumpling its moment of ceremony. What follows is our considered guide to where they do it best.

Ponsonby & Mission Bay

Azabu

Commercial Bay

Eden Noodles

Ponsonby

The Gyoza Bar