Sister-owners Hannah and Marian Cheng are shuttering the location due to an expiring lease, pivoting their business model entirely toward scaling a nationwide frozen-dumpling line available in major supermarket chains like Whole Foods Market.
The End of an East Village Era
For over a decade, the tiny storefront between 11th and 12th streets served up fresh jiaozi, capturing a loyal local following.
The founders noted that their little dumpling shop unexpectedly evolved into a nationwide frozen-dumpling enterprise. By cutting ties with physical restaurant overhead, the brand aims to land on significantly more home tables than a single neighborhood kitchen ever could.
Scaling the Frozen-Dumpling Supply Chain
Mimi Cheng’s frozen SKUs already occupy freezer space in regional markets and specialty grocers like Farm to People, alongside national giants like Whole Foods and California’s Berkeley Bowl.
Avid fans of the shop’s experimental menu items won’t lose everything in the transition. To mark the final days of the physical restaurant, the kitchen is bringing back one of its most popular collaborations. From September 1 to September 11, diners can order the Emmy Burger Dumplings. Originally developed with Emily pizzeria, these limited-run parcels combine dry-aged beef, caramelized onions, white cheddar cheese, and crushed pretzel pieces designed to mimic a pretzel bun, served alongside signature Emmy Sauce.
A Legacy of Culinary Collaborations
Throughout its 12-year tenure, Mimi Cheng’s defined itself through creative cross-brand culinary fusions. The kitchen frequently partnered with iconic food institutions to reinvent traditional dumpling formats. Past menu iterations included:
- Katz’s Deli: Pastrami Reuben-inspired dumplings capturing classic deli flavor profiles.
- Lucali: Calzone-style dumplings mirroring the famed pizzeria’s rustic Italian ingredients.
- NoMad: A specialty dumpling featuring the famed roast chicken recipe from the high-end establishment.
While the physical room on Second Avenue goes dark on September 11, these imaginative flavor profiles will survive in the freezer aisle as the company doubles down on its retail expansion.
