Unstoppable dumpling makers open their newest restaurant this week

In just a year, Saturday Dumpling Co. has gone from viral pop-up sensation to a fast-growing, fast-casual powerhouse.

The newest restaurant from Linda Cao and Peter Bian officially opens Wednesday at 5401 Penn Av. S. in Minneapolis with breakfast, lunch and dinner hours Tuesday through Sunday.

“Opening three locations in such a short time is surreal,” said Bian. “Especially for two people who started this with zero restaurant experience. But we’ve built an incredible team. We’ve got more ideas than ever.”

Breakfast is new territory for the couple, and with it comes variations on their popular scallion pancake breakfast burrito as well as new dishes like breakfast sandwiches, congee hash browns and a miso meatloaf melt sandwich. These plus other special dishes will appear alongside the namesake dumplings, stuffed with La Chang sausage, tingly mala beef and more.

The opening caps off an impressive year that began with SDC’s first restaurant opening in northeast Minneapolis, making a Minnesota State Fair new food debut with O’Gara’s and opening a counter inside the Market at Malcolm Yards food hall.

Saturday Dumpling Co. began during the pandemic when Cao and Bian were stuck at home, unable to celebrate Chinese New Year with family and friends. The two were neither trained as chefs nor particularly trusted as the dumpling makers of their families. But craving that connection to home, they embarked on a journey making Bian’s family recipe and sharing them with friends. What began as drop-offs on doorsteps grew into an online business that drew crowds every Saturday, when people picked up orders.

The newest outpost came to them after the last tenant of the address closed earlier this year. “Armatage has been on our radar since day one,” Bian said. When the space in southwest Minneapolis became available, “we knew we’d found our third home,” he said.

TokiDoki Burger (3406 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls.), the burger restaurant with Japanese flair from chef Matthew Kazama, will close at the end of December.

The announcement on Instagram said: “It’s been an amazing ride, and we’re really grateful for all the support. We’ve decided to switch the concept to something I’m super passionate about.”

Kazama opened the restaurant in March 2024, just down the block from his original Ramen Kazama restaurant.

Requests for comment weren’t immediately answered, but stay tuned to what will open in that spot next year. Until then, those burgers, wings, small plates and togarashi fries will be available through Dec. 31.

Eager diners quickly sold the Circle Deli & Boba out of menu items during its grand opening over the weekend. The new restaurant (1829 N. St. Paul Road, Maplewood) specializes in boba beverages, Vietnamese coffee, croffles, banh mi, bao buns, noodle soups and more.

CrowBar and its sibling distillery Volière Spirits opened last week inside St. Paul’s historic Hamm’s Brewery. Owners ReGina Clapp and Liza Sterletske took over the 11 Wells Spirits space that once housed the Hamm’s blacksmith shop.

The Pioneer Press reports that much like its neighbors at St. Paul Brewing, CrowBar (704 Minnehaha Av. E.) is filled with a mix of historic bar elements, including bathroom stall doors from the recently shuttered Palmer’s Bar and the former Erte & the Peacock Lounge.

Cocktails are made by Grete Bergland and feature spirits made by head distiller Seth Reid. The distillery’s initial lineup includes rum, vodka, gin, whiskey and rye. Because they took over former distillery space along with its barrels, those aged spirits came along with the deal.

The bar hours are flexible for now, but they expect to open at 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and noon on Saturdays, with closing hours still being determined. Follow @CrowBar_Hammstown on Instagram for updates.

Murray’s, home of the legendary Silver Butter Knife Steak, has partnered with Jamie Malone’s Paris Dining Club for a classy New Year’s Eve choose-your-own-adventure.

Dinner at Murray’s will blend the iconic steakhouse menu with Paris Dining Club’s classic technique and vibes. There are just a couple of reservations still available on Open Table for Dec. 31.