A Leawood restaurant and antique shop is saying goodbye after roughly three years.
Rakar Dumpling House, known for both dumplings and antique furniture, has announced its impending closure at the end of this year.
Rakar Dumpling House is at 4971 W. 135th St.
- The restaurant occupied a space at the Cornerstone of Leawood shopping center, off 135th Street and Briar Drive in Leawood.
- Other nearby businesses include Blooming Home Decor & Upholstery and Discover Strength.
- Before Rakar took over the building, it was previously occupied by a Winstead’s diner.
Rakar Dumpling House offered dumplings and other Asian dishes
As the name implies, the restaurant is primarily known for its wide variety of dumplings — some of which include pork soup dumplings, lamb dumplings and shrimp dumplings.
“It’s all homemade, like my own recipe,” said co-owner Jim Zhang. “We work so hard for the quality, and we try to make it healthier and fresh.”
The menu also featured dishes like cashew chicken, beef lo mein, vegetable fried rice, and appetizers like cucumber salad and steamed buns. Co-owner Catherine Kot’s family also owns Chinese restaurant Dragon Inn in downtown Overland Park.
Rakar also doubled as an antique furniture store. Zhang has been in the furniture business for more than 20 years.
The restaurant will close in December
Rakar’s last day of business will be Dec. 20. Customers have until then to stop by for their last dumplings.
The closure comes as its owners prepare to retire — which Zhang said had always been the goal to do by this year.
But that doesn’t mean he won’t miss the restaurant’s loyal customers. It’s been a good run, he said, and he’s thankful for how the community embraced Rakar in its three years.
“I’ll miss all my hard work and a lot of customers,” he said. “A lot of them say, ‘We drive from Parkville’, or ‘We drive from (elsewhere) far away because your food is great.’ I’m always touched by that.”
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