Laobian Dumpling
A Shenyang-origin Chinese restaurant brand known for dumplings, traditional preparation methods, and a culinary history dating to 1829.
Last updated October 12, 2026
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Overview
Laobian Dumpling (Chinese: 老边饺子; pinyin: Lǎobiān Jiǎozi) is a Chinese restaurant chain founded in 1829 during the Daoguang period of the Qing dynasty. It is based in Shenyang, Liaoning, and is renowned for its dumplings and long culinary heritage. The founder, Bian Fusheng, was born in Renqiu, Hebei Province, and moved to Shenyang to make a living. The restaurant is recognized as a China Time-honored Brand and holds the Guinness World Record as the world's oldest dumpling restaurant, certified in 2000 as the "World's Longest-Running Dumpling Restaurant." The brand's traditional dumpling preparation method was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage by Liaoning Province in 2011. Laobian Dumpling operates over 200 branches across China, with verified locations in Shenyang, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Haikou, as well as branches in Tokyo, Japan. Its flagship location is on Zhongjie Road in Shenhe District, Shenyang. The current chairman and legal representative is Cui Tao (崔韬), who also serves as general manager. The company has a registered capital of RMB 2.79 million and its operating range includes restaurant operations, catering services, and frozen food services. In June 2016, during a state visit to Shenyang, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was served curated dishes by Laobian Dumpling chefs at the Shenyang Shangri-La Hotel, and a special dumpling dish was nicknamed the "Angela Merkel Dumpling" in her honor. The brand has been designated as a Liaoning Famous Brand and a Shenyang Famous Brand.
History
Laobian Dumpling traces its origins to 1829, during the Daoguang era of the Qing dynasty. Its founder, Bian Fusheng, came from Renqiu in Hebei Province and moved to Shenyang to earn a living. The business developed as a dumpling restaurant and became associated with the Bian family’s culinary practices and with the food culture of Shenyang and northeastern China. The restaurant’s history was carried through successive generations. In 1940, Bian Lin, described as the third-generation successor, relocated the establishment to Shenyang’s North Market. The move connected the restaurant with one of the city’s important commercial and public gathering areas and helped sustain its visibility through a period of major political and economic change in China. Bian Lin’s grandson, Bian Jiang, later became the fifth-generation successor. He took over the business around the 1990s, maintaining the family-linked identity of the restaurant before ownership was transferred again. The enterprise’s culinary reputation centres on a dumpling-filling method in which ingredients are stir-fried as part of the preparation process. The technique is treated as a defining feature of Laobian-style dumplings and is associated with the brand’s flavour profile. In 2011, the method was formally listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage item in Liaoning, giving official cultural recognition to a practice that had previously been transmitted through the restaurant’s culinary tradition. Laobian’s heritage also became part of its public commercial identity. In 2000, Guinness World Records recognised it as the world’s longest-running dumpling restaurant. The brand has additionally been identified as a China Time-honored Brand and has received Liaoning and Shenyang famous-brand designations. These recognitions support its positioning as a historical and cultural restaurant rather than simply a local dining outlet. The business later expanded beyond its historic Shenyang base. Documented Chinese locations include the central Shenyang flagship on Zhongjie Road, another Shenyang branch in Changbai, and an airport food-court location at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport. Other listed locations are in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Haikou. The reference material also describes a wider network of more than 200 branches in China, although the available information does not independently verify every location or establish the current exact number of operating outlets. The brand has also opened restaurants in Tokyo, including locations in Shinjuku. Laobian’s business scope includes restaurant operations, catering, and frozen-food services. This indicates an effort to extend the brand’s traditional food identity into a broader food-service and prepared-food platform. The current chairman and general manager, Cui Tao, is also identified as the enterprise’s legal representative. The available material does not establish the precise date of the latest ownership transfer or provide a complete corporate ownership history. A notable international publicity moment occurred in June 2016, when Laobian chefs prepared selected dishes for German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her state visit to Shenyang. The event took place at the Shenyang Shangri-La Hotel, and a dumpling subsequently became informally known as the “Angela Merkel Dumpling.” The episode linked the local heritage brand to an internationally recognised guest and became part of Laobian’s modern public narrative. Today, Laobian Dumpling remains associated with Shenyang, traditional dumpling craftsmanship, and the continuity of a restaurant history dating to the nineteenth century. Its identity combines family-origin culinary tradition, official heritage recognition, Guinness recognition, domestic expansion, and a limited international presence in Japan. Further research is needed to confirm its current corporate structure, exact operating footprint, official digital presence, and present management beyond the information cited above.
- 2016
Chefs prepare dishes for Angela Merkel
[1]Laobian chefs served selected dishes during Angela Merkel’s visit to Shenyang, leading to an informally named “Angela Merkel Dumpling.”
- 2011
Dumpling method receives provincial heritage recognition
[1]The Laobian dumpling preparation method was listed as a Liaoning provincial intangible cultural heritage item.
- 2000
Guinness World Records recognition
[1]Laobian was recognised as the world’s longest-running dumpling restaurant.
- 1940
Restaurant moved to Shenyang North Market
[1]Bian Lin, identified as the third-generation successor, relocated the restaurant to the North Market.
- 1829
Dumpling business founded in Shenyang
[1]Bian Fusheng established the business after moving from Renqiu in Hebei Province to Shenyang.
Products and positioning
Traditional Chinese culinary heritage brand combining Shenyang regional identity, long operating history, recognised dumpling craftsmanship, and multi-city restaurant operations.
Dumplings · 1829
Laobian-style dumplings
The brand’s signature product is the Chinese dumpling, prepared using a filling technique that includes stir-frying ingredients before final assembly. This method is central to Laobian’s culinary identity and is associated with a more developed cooked-aroma profile. The dumplings represent both the restaurant’s principal commercial product and the craft tradition for which its preparation method received provincial intangible cultural heritage recognition.
Chinese cuisine
Traditional Chinese dishes
In addition to dumplings, Laobian restaurants serve selected dishes from Chinese cuisine. The available material does not provide a complete menu, but the broader offering supports the brand’s role as a Chinese restaurant rather than a single-product dumpling kiosk. Laobian chefs also prepare curated dishes for institutional and diplomatic hospitality occasions.
Prepared foods
Frozen food products
Frozen-food services are included in the enterprise’s stated operating scope. The available sources do not identify specific packaged products, recipes, distribution channels, or launch dates, but the category indicates an extension of Laobian’s restaurant heritage into prepared or frozen food operations.
Specialty dumpling · 2016
Angela Merkel Dumpling
This informal name refers to a special dumpling associated with dishes served to Angela Merkel during her 2016 visit to Shenyang. The available material presents it as a commemorative or publicity-linked specialty rather than documenting it as a separately standardised permanent product line.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2016
Creation of the Angela Merkel DumplingProduct launchBackground
Laobian chefs prepared selected dishes for German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her June 2016 visit to Shenyang.
Action taken
A special dumpling served in connection with the occasion was subsequently referred to informally as the “Angela Merkel Dumpling.”
Aftermath
The episode became part of the restaurant’s modern publicity and international-facing heritage narrative. The available sources do not establish whether the item remained on the regular menu.
Recent events
- 2016
Laobian chefs serve dishes to Angela Merkel during her Shenyang visit[1]
Other
During a June 2016 state visit to Shenyang, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was served selected dishes prepared by Laobian Dumpling chefs at the Shenyang Shangri-La Hotel. A dumpling later became informally associated with her name.
- 2011
Laobian dumpling-making method recognised as Liaoning intangible cultural heritage[1]
Other
The brand’s traditional dumpling preparation method was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage item, formalising recognition of its culinary technique.
- 2000
Guinness recognises Laobian as the longest-running dumpling restaurant[1]
Other
Laobian Dumpling received Guinness World Records recognition as the world’s longest-running dumpling restaurant.
Sources2 sources
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