Dumplings, fried rice and furniture? Chinese restaurant & retail shop opens in JoCo

Jim Zhang took notice of a former Winstead’s building in Leawood and thought it would be perfect for a combo Asian retail shop and restaurant with his longtime friend, Catherine Kot.

Kot’s parents opened the Dragon Inn in downtown Overland Park in 1975. She has worked there since, going from full time to semi-retiring to helping out now and then.

“All my life, all I know is the food business. My family is from north China and my family eats dumplings,” she said. “Dumplings bring everyone together, you connect to your family, you connect to your friends.”

Zhang, who has long imported and sold Asian furniture, said: “Catherine was so excited. She said, ‘Let’s do it.’ A unique combo business. We are really good friends, we’ve known each other a long time.”

Their Rakar Dumpling House menu includes roast pork fried rice, vegetable fried rice, steamed mixed seasonal vegetables, braised chicken thigh with marinated egg, dumplings (beef, fish, pork or vegetable), crab Rangoon, vegetable spring rolls, steamed edamame, sesame shrimp, egg rolls, fried steamed buns with sweetened condensed milk dip, and egg drop soup. It also has bubble teas including taro, jasmine and matcha. It sells frozen dumplings to take home.

It softly opened at 4971 W. 135th St. in late April but plans a grand opening in June. So far the pork dumplings are the most popular item.

“We will work hard for our customers, to make food that is healthy, fresh, delicious,” Zhang said.

The retail section has mostly Asian furniture — some antique and some made from reclaimed wood — as well as home decor.

It is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

This story was originally published May 16, 2023 at 10:13 AM.