After 12 years, New York will lose its beloved destination for the “best cupcakes” in September
Twelve years of freshly steamed and fried dumplings filled with pork, chicken, vegetables, and desserts—often praised as the “best dumplings in New York”—are coming to an end at one of the East Village’s most iconic quick-meal spots.
Mimi Cheng's has confirmed that its final day at 179 2nd Avenue will be Friday, September 11, marking the end of an era for neighborhood Taiwanese comfort food and one of the best inexpensive places to eat in North America, according to Opinionated About Dining (OAD).
The decision is due to the termination of the restaurant's lease, according to a statement released by the owners.
Before you panic, take a deep breath: this isn't exactly the end of these filled cupcakes. In fact, it's just the beginning of a new chapter.
12 years of family recipes and legendary partnerships
Founded by sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng, Mimi Cheng's opened its doors on 2nd Avenue in July 2014. Named after their mother, the restaurant has gained a loyal following thanks to its authentic Taiwanese-style recipes, passed down through generations.
Although the sisters eventually expanded to four locations in New York City, the original East Village store remained the true heart of the brand. Besides their famous organic muffins, the store became renowned throughout the city for its super-creative monthly collaborations. Over the years, they've garnered attention with:
Don't panic, they're going straight to your freezer.
For fans devastated by the news, there is a silver lining. The physical store may be closing its doors on 2nd Avenue, but the brand itself is reinventing itself, rather than disappearing.
At the end of 2025, the sisters launched a national line of frozen products, bringing their exclusive recipes to the shelves of famous stores like Whole Foods Market from coast to coast. From here, the duo is shifting their focus to expanding production so that their dumplings can "reach far more tables than a single restaurant ever could."
This means that, although you can no longer sit on 2nd Avenue after September 11th, the cupcakes aren't going anywhere—they're going straight to your kitchen table.
One final tribute: the return of the Emmy Burger Dumpling.
Of course, Mimi Cheng's couldn't end 12 years in the East Village without resurrecting one of its most iconic collaborations with dumplings.
From now until the restaurant's last day, the place will be bringing back the most requested collaboration of all time: the Emmy Burger Dumpling.
Created in partnership with Pizza Loves Emily, the grand farewell bean fritter comes filled with dry-aged beef, caramelized onions, white cheddar cheese, and crushed pretzel pieces, served with Emmy's signature sauce as a side.
If you want to grab one last bite at the counter where it all began, stop by the East Village before September 11th.
