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Michelin-recognized dumpling shop to open 2 San Antonio locations

Luscious Dumplings is making it Texas debut in San Antonio

Photo courtesy of Luscious Dumplings

Luscious Dumplings, a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand-recognized restaurant from California, has two San Antonio locations slated to debut in the coming months. The outposts will be the first Texas stores for the cult chain.

The first, located at 12485 I-10 #108, is slated to open this May, a short drive from the main UTSA campus and La Cantera. Luscious Dumplings manager Alan Shi confirmed the news, which was first teased via an April 16 Instagram post. A second location is also in the works at 415 W. 1604 S. #113, on the far West Side of town near the Westover Hills neighborhood.

Per a recent filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, construction is slated to begin on the second Luscious Dumplings location this June, with a tentative completion date set for March 2026. As of publication, the debut date of San Antonio's second Luscious Dumplings location has yet to be finalized.

The Luscious Dumplings menu keeps things simple with three sections — dumplings, soup noodles, and light snacks. Dumpling flavors include boiled cabbage, pork and shrimp, steamed vegetarian, pan-fried pork, and pan-fried sole. Guests can also opt for stewed or sliced pork belly noodles, a shredded Szechuan pickle and pork noodle dish, or snacks like bok choy in oyster sauce or seaweed salad in chili garlic.

Luscious Dumplings was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide for three consecutive years from 2021 through 2023. Founded by Alan Lam & Grace Li in 2001, the concept quickly expanded thanks to the couple's daughter, Michelle Wu, and her husband, Ker Zhu, who opened a second California location in Monrovia in 2012.

San Antonio is part of the brand's slow nationwide expansion — with additional locations already open and operating in Colorado and Philadelphia. The official company website teases that more California locations are "coming soon."

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COMING ATTRACTIONS

3 burger restaurants in shipping containers to open in San Antonio

Smalls Sliders/ Facebook

Smalls Sliders is opening a third San Antonio location.

Atlanta-based cheeseburger chain Smalls Sliders is following through on its earlier promise of rapid San Antonio expansion. A third location, at 2418 SE Military Dr., is already underway before the first two outposts open.

The company has submitted Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation paperwork for a new drive-thru near Brooks City Base. Earlier in 2025, Smalls filed paperwork for two other locations, at 8743 State Hwy. 151 and 2453 W Loop 1604 S. near Marbach Road. Construction on the third outpost is set to wrap up in October.

Bucking the trend of uniform fast-food architecture, Smalls Sliders is known for its blazing orange shipping container-style buildings the company calls "smorange cans." Locations focus on speed and efficiency, skipping traditional dining rooms in favor of drive-thrus and small patios.

The whittled-down menu is equally zippy. Smalls focuses on variations of a single slider, a mini cheeseburger with a toasted buttered bun, pickles, and Smauce, a proprietary mayo and ketchup–based dipping sauce.

Smalls Sliders is known for its shipping container-style buildings.Smalls Sliders/ Facebook

From there, guests can add bacon or get another patty and a slice of American cheese. Sides are limited to seasoned waffle fries, which can be dipped in Smauce or queso. Shakes come in three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and cookies and cream.

The minimalist offerings — plus the low building costs — keep customer costs low. A two-slider combo meal with fries and a fountain drink costs $8.99; a four-slider feast is only $13.99.

In 2024, Smalls announced a franchising agreement with local father-and-son operators Ramzi and Danny Hakim to bring 12 locations to the city. Although the company still does not list the initial two locations on its website, both should arrive before the end of 2025.

Nationally, the company has equally ambitious growth plans. Smalls Sliders was created in 2019 by Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux founder Brandon Landry. Early investments from private equity firm 10 Point Capital and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees quickly accelerated growth. Today, the company has over 250 units in development, according to industry news site Restaurant Spaces.

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