Meet: Annie & Irene from Mei Mei Dumplings

In Southie, businesses are not just about products—they’re about stories, community, and the people who make it all happen, and Mei Mei Dumplings is no exception. This business started with a family dream and has since become a beloved part of the community. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Irene Li, co-founder of Mei Mei Dumplings, and Annie Campbell, managing partner, to learn more about their journey, mission, and the exciting niche Mei Mei Dumplings fills in the Southie market.

Mei Mei’s story is rooted in family and a multicultural upbringing. Irene shared that it all began with a food truck in 2012. “‘Mei Mei’ means ‘little sister’ in Mandarin, and it was my brother Andy’s idea to open a food truck. When his little sisters found out, we insisted on getting involved! Our mission was to represent our Chinese American upbringing using local, carefully sourced ingredients,” she explained. Over the years, Mei Mei has evolved from its food truck origins into a full-service restaurant, complete with its own cookbooks and sauce line, and eventually became the Dumpling Factory it is today. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: “Our guests cannot get enough of our dumplings!” said Irene.

Today, Mei Mei operates as a retail store, selling frozen dumplings along with a selection of curated local and Asian goods. From ceramics made by Irene’s cousin to dumpling-themed gifts and sauces, their space offers much more than just dumplings. They even host cooking classes, teaching guests how to make dumplings, noodles, and scallion pancakes, and have space available for private events for corporate groups and families. Annie shared that their dumplings are available at more than 30 farmers markets and 50 retail stores across the region, extending Mei Mei’s reach well beyond our neighborhood.

As the managing partner in charge of manufacturing, Annie’s day-to-day involves hands-on work in the production facility. “I usually start my day reviewing dumpling orders with our production manager, following up on customer inquiries, and organizing distribution runs. If it’s a dumpling production day, I get to taste a dumpling every hour or so… purely for quality control!” she joked.

Choosing South Boston as the location for their Dumpling Factory was a carefully thought-out decision. “Ironworks presented us with an incredible opportunity to have both a storefront and a production space,” Annie shared. “In another timeline, we’d have a windowless factory somewhere in the suburbs, but here, we have an interactive and hospitable environment for our guests.” She particularly loves the giant window between the classroom and the production floor, which she says symbolizes the transparency and relationships that are core to Mei Mei’s values.

Since moving to Southie in 2023, the team has felt a strong sense of community. Annie recalled one of her favorite memories: “One day, we found crocheted heart pins on our counter. We wore them proudly on our aprons and later learned they were from Linda of ASCA. She even brought us crocheted shamrock pins for St. Paddy’s. It was such a warm and personal welcome—it felt like we made the right choice to move here.”

Looking ahead, Mei Mei is excited about the future, both for their business and the neighborhood. They’ve been working to formalize factory tours, and they’re eager to see the Ironworks area continue to grow to include more tenants and small businesses. “Every new storefront means more foot traffic, and we love a walkable neighborhood,” Annie said.

Whether you’re picking up frozen dumplings or joining one of their cooking classes, Mei Mei Dumplings is a place where family, food, and community come together. Stop by 58 Old Colony Ave. for some goodies to take home, or sign up for a class on their website: https://meimeidumplings.com/. Learn more about Mei Mei in our interview video below!