It’s not a new phone, it’s not a new water bottle or stuffed animal, it’s not even food;
It’s a squishy dumpling toy that’s trending right now everywhere, selling out fast at every Five Below.

Five Below’s mystery dumpling toy has exploded across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, turning a cheap squishy toy into a must-have collectible. What started as a random shelf item is now selling out in stores across the country.

The viral dumpling is a soft, squishy toy that comes in mystery packaging, meaning you don’t know which type of dumpling you’ll get until you open it. Some versions are small and palm-sized, while others are normal-sized and even jumbo-sized. They come in different colors and textures/feels.

Some reasons people seem to be obsessed over it are that it’s affordable, being around $5, which is a lot cheaper than other usual trends. The soft, stretchy texture makes it fun to squish, which also looks great on camera, and of course, mystery = excitement. Blind packaging makes every purchase feel special, and in each different series theirs a special mystery one that everyone wants.

Freshman Olivia Wynkopp said, “I have already bought 12 of them. I love them so much. But I still haven’t gotten the mystery one, sadly.”

Ironically, many people say the dumpling sat untouched before it went viral. But once social media noticed them, Five Below started selling out within hours of restocking. Some locations even limit how many customers can buy at once. And resale listings have popped up online for more than the original price. And to believe all of this over a squishy dumpling

“I went to Five Below on their usual restock day bright and early in the morning, and their was only five dumplings left,” said freshman Sophia Sanie.

Whether the dumpling craze lasts or fades, it’s another example of how fast trends move- and how powerful social media can be in turning everyday items into must-have collectibles.