Simple, Savory, Legendary: Pel’Meni Bellingham

An order of beef dumplings from Pel’Meni topped with curry powder and a side of rye bread and sour cream.

Pel’Meni Restaurant in Bellingham is the dumpling restaurant locals can’t stop loving. Pel'Meni is a hole in the wall Russian Dumpling restaurant located at 1211 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225. It’s this coveted spot that it feels like everyone discovers by being invited by someone else to try it. Which is wild considering it is on the State Street, a main road in Bellingham, open until 2AM, and serves only one dish: dumplings.

Ordering Dumplings at Pel’Meni

It’s easy. You have 3 choices: beef, potato, or a mix of the two. That’s it. Your dumplings come topped with butter, curry powder, homemade hot sauce, and cilantro plus a side of rye bread and sour cream. They all come in a to-go container with to-go utilizes. You walk up to the counter and say you’d like, “one order of…” beef, potato, or mix. Then the one Pel’Meni Master Maker that shift will call your order when it’s ready.

When I was first shepherded to Pel’Meni in college by a second-year student my group met this local staple with confusion, just dumplings? What? How would I be full? In 2013 the dumplings cost $6 (with a tip), so you’d usually order two. Today the base price is about $9 without a tip and one order regularly satisfies.

If I had to critique one thing, Chef and I have always wondered why Pel’Meni doesn’t use a scale to weigh the dumplings being served. Then you end up with the same value of dumplings no matter what. Sometimes you can get lucky and get a HUGE amount of dumplings, other times you might feel a little skimped. But according to Pel’Meni’s website each order should be, “roughly 15-20 bite size dumplings,” and I agree with that statement.

The Front door of Pel’Meni on State Street in Bellingham, WA

Pel’Meni Restaurant Space

It’s kind of hard to describe… it’s this long and narrow neighborhood place with a retro vibe that I think rarely changes. I remember them putting up artwork or maybe they painted the walls blue? They decorate for the seasons and have fun string lights regularly across the ceiling. That’s about the most this space changes.

It’s rather steamy in there since they are constantly boiling water for the dumplings and the high ceiling make vents probably impossible. The tables haven’t changed in years, though I do have a memory of some drunk person at 1AM throwing a Pel’Meni’s chair and breaking it outside the restaurant. It’s the joys and woes of being open until 2AM with a few bars near by. But worry not, that street is well-lit at night and there are many folks around, so it’s unlikely you’ll feel unsafe.

There is just something delightful about it’s relaxed nature, aloof-vibe, and quick-order-to-eat-to-out method.

PLUS THE RECORD PLAYER! They have this amazing collection of records and a record player that previously you can pick and play while you’re there.

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Eating The Pel’Meni Dumplings

So, they make one thing, it must be good — Can confirm, it is. You cilantro haters can get it without the cilantro worry not. Like I said earlier they come topped with butter, curry powder, homemade hot sauce, and cilantro and that slice of rye bread and sour cream. You can also snag some extra spicy sauce and rice vinegar at the counter.

The dumplings are amazing when you sit down and eat them but even if you take them to go, cruise to your destination and eat them they will still be hot, tasty, and I kid you not— when you crave these dumplings nothing else will suffice.

The dough of the dumplings is soft, and they melt in your mouth. The hot sauce is just enough to warm your mouth but I wouldn’t say it’s spicy, I love the curry powder they top it with. Each bite is just that little bit varied so you can fully enjoy each dumpling.

There are a few methods for eating Pel’Meni Dumplings — I usually get two sour creams and I will take a little tip-of-the-spoonful with each dumpling. Chef will put his sour cream right into the container and mix it all up, he also adds extra sauce for an extra punch. Then at the end the base of your dumpling container will have extra oil/sauce/cream at the end and we use the bread to soak up the remaining goodies so we have a clean container to stack when we finish. I heard there is a little debate about when to eat the rye bread. Some people will eat the bread through out. I haven’t heard of anyone eating it first… I don’t think I will be giving that a try.

Dumplings at Pel'Meni Restaurant

Each order has about 15 - 20 dumplings!

Pel'Meni is the dumpling you didn't know you needed.

I was laughing as I was doing some research for this post and someone in 2015 had written, “It's the best tasting food you can find late at night. And late at night it's the best thing you have ever tasted. Ever.” I always love when the specific “Pel’Meni” craving takes over.

I’ll tell Chef I need it and while I try to find that perfect balance of want/need since $10 for dumplings feel steep comparatively to my experience growing up — It never fails to fill that craving. I do adore Hey! Dumpling, which I wrote about previously, but Pel’Meni is it’s own simple creation.

This is just one of the best “hole-in-the-wall” places that I feel like you discover when you go to college in Bellingham or if you know that Bellingham native who is just “knows”. Let me know if you get the Beef, Potato, or Mix. Since that’s all there is to it! Enjoy! Eat dumplings!