Bethesda Magazine
Best Seller
JINLAN WENHUA DUMPLINGS
FOR POTOMAC RESIDENT LAN JIN, teaching Chinese to children for the past 11 years at Bethesda's Norwood School has been one way to introduce people to her native culture. Making and selling dumplings has become another.
"All Chinese people know how to make dumplings. It's very social for us," she explains. "I'd make and freeze them for friends and colleagues so they could make them at home, and teach my students how to make them for Chinese New Year." They were such a hit that Jin started selling them as Jinlan Wenhua Dumplings(wenhua means "culture" in Mandarin) at the now-closed Central Farm Market in Falls Church in October 2020, and then at Bethesda Central Farm Market three months later. Now she's at eight farmers markets, including Bethesda on Sundays and the Freshfarm market in Silver Spring on Saturdays. She produces the dumplings in a commercial kitchen in Gaithersburg, but will be moving the operationto White Flint Station in North Bethesda this summer, when she anticipates opening a 30-seat restaurant there called Jin Lan Dumplings. She plans to open another location in Georgetown in October.
On the market menu are varieties of frozen beef, pork, lamb, chicken, shrimp and vegetarian dumplings, such as pork and chive; pork and bok choy; chicken and cabbage; egg, shrimp and chives; and lamb and carrots. The dumplings are raw and come with directions for pan-frying and microwaving. All are $13 for eight dumplings, except for lamb dumplings, which are $15. Other items include Sichuan wontons ($15) and Shanghai scallion pancakes ($15).
Jin, who now only teaches part time,sources many ingredients from other farmers market vendors. She has 14 part-time workers, two drivers and four dumpling makers. "I like to give jobs to immigrants, especially mothers and grandmothers. A lot of Chinese grand-mothers came here to help with their grandchildren; once the kids are grown, they have nothing to do at home," she says. "Now they have something to do with their hands and a way to socialize."
About Us
JINLAN WENHUA is a woman-owned business led by first-generation Chinese immigrants. We hand-make Chinese dumplings using products from locally sourced farms. Ingredients include vegetables, meat, glutinous rice, and flour for the dumpling stuffing and wraps. Our recipe is handed down from our grandmas and adapted to seasonal farm products. Bring a box of frozen dumplings home, cook for your family’s dining table and enjoy. Cooking is simple and quick, with instructions provided.
In April 2025, JINLAN WENHUA opened its 1st restaurant in Rockville. This milestone brought the business to the professional stage. The tasty hot dumplings are served with an extended menu, where you can enjoy hot food, warm service, and a beautiful modern atmosphere. We are pleased to serve our heartful authentic food with an emphasis on our Chinese culture, and to be able to serve our community at lively weekend farmers markets, exciting events and festivals, as well as our wonderful restaurant. Our business won’t thrive with your support! Thank you deeply from our hearts!