Hunan Wok (Sparta, NJ)

Is there a better sight to come home to for a dumpling connoisseur than some dumplings? With Lucky House a distant memory, finding a new go to dumpling place nearby has been a process. These bad boys are from Hunan Wok. I would have to say an overall solid dumpling. The sauce is a bit sweeter than the good old fashioned dumpling sauces at the many other Chinese places I have ventured. I didn't have these dumplings at their peak, and they were a bit cold by the time I wolfed 'em down. (A respected dumpling critic doesn't have time to reheat; if there is a dumpling in my line of sight its in my belly within the minute). 

With Fu's already receiving a solid score, and being a located in town as well, we might have a competition on our hands. Another solid showing from a Sparta Chinese place. It's like I live in some sort of dumpling pocket. 

Sparta does it again,

4 out of 5 

Rivals Fu's, who knows maybe if they were hot out the pan, they would've received a higher score. 

Next logical step is a blind dumpling taste test between the two frontrunners for Eric's go to dumpling place. Eventually that'll happen 

(Notice the Christmas plate, gotta keep it festive on the blog)

Eric 

Chen's Kitchen (Towson, MD)

After working a 12+ hour day there was only one thing that could satiate me...dumplings. I recently moved to Maryland and it's taken me a while to scope out local Chinese places. First up is Chen's Kitchen. Now full disclosure, I was extremely tired and hungry at the time of this review.

After working a long, cold, wet day, all I wanted was a beautiful morsel of heaven, we call dumplings. When I opened the container, I was hopeful. Did I find my go to dumpling place on the first try? The answer, Nope.

While the dumplings had the familiar dumpling taste, the dumpling to filling ratio was some of the worst I have seen. The dough was probably 60 to 70% of the over all ratio. The filling was a little morsel in a sea of empty space and dough. At some points I found myself only dunking dough into the sauce completely devoid of any filling what so ever. Hey, Chen just cut your dough balls a little smaller, it would make a world of difference. What could have been a solid dumpling, ended up with one of my worst ratings.

But again a bad dumpling is still a dumpling,

2.8 out of 5

My quest for my go to Maryland dumpling spot continues.

Eric

China Palace (Cape Cod, MA)

China Palace is an ill-let venue. It's a perfect place for post-beach meals during which your main objective is to hide from all UV rays and replenish your depleting MSG stores. Mostly always, I ignore the tea they leave boiling lava-hot on the table in search of an ice or luke-warm glass of water. This time -- influenced by my girlfriend and her must try everything attitude -- I went for the tea. Scolding, very. But refreshing, somehow.

We ordered the dumplings immediately, and they came swiftly following another round of tea. At first bite, I thought we were looking at four and a half stars. The outside was cooked to a delicious dark brown, the meat was warm and savory. But, upon further inspection it became clear that the dough to pork ratio was askew. The dough was too thick, creating an unequal distribution of flavors. That said, they were solid contenders. If you're ever in the area and hitting the beaches, follow them up with some tea and dumplings

3.5 out of 5 stars

Tyuck

Fu's (Sparta, NJ)

Fu's

With the holy grail of dumplings (Lucky House) gone from town, I finally gained the courage to start branching out to other Sparta Chinese restaurants. Before I wouldn't even have dared to step foot in the door at Fu's, it would be like sleeping with the enemy. If you have a solid 5 dumpling place right down the road, what would people think if they saw the definitive dumpling expert of Northern NJ walking into a different establishment, didn't even want to risk the controversy that would have caused. Like I said, Lucky House is no more, and so I must get over my mourning period, and move on.

I went into Fu's hesitant, my first Sparta dumpling after Lucky House, but I know i had to its what Lucky House would want. Find a new dumpling and go on living my life.

Fu's trumped expectations, a very solid dumpling. If it weren't for my preconceived notion of being a rival, they might have received a higher score. Dough, good, filling, good, sauce, good, dumpling, good.

4 out of 5

Great dumpling, Fu's is now my go to dumpling restaurant, it pains me to even write those words but they make a mean dumpling.

Well done Fu's.

Eric

Good Taste (Hamburg, NJ)

Good Taste

Today, I journeyed over to the Chinese food Mecca, of Hamburg NJ, straight to little Chinatown, which basically consists of Good Taste, a small Chinese restaurant next to a liquor store and a bagel shop.

Hamburg NJ, doesn't have much going for it, and these dumpling aren't helping. They're completely average. If you were a jonesing dumpling fiend, and all that was around you Good Taste, I'd say go for it. If you have the ability to walk, ride a bike, drive, there are plenty better dumplings in the area.

The dough to filling ratio, totally skewed, sauce was definitely straight up soy, didn't even go the extra mile of just chopping up some scallions and throwing them in there to at least try and pull a fast one over on me.

Didn't expect much going in, and wasn't surprised at all.

A dumpling is a dumpling though,


2.8 out of 5

Eric

Blossom Asian Bistro (Mt. Arlington, NJ)

Blossom Asian Bistro

I tend to always get the same thing at Blossom, and no matter how many times I tell the waitresses I do not want soup or a salad, they without fail bring me a salad.

With that off of my chest, they make a solid dumpling. These are quality dumplings not the best I've had and far from the worst. Crispy outside, slightly better than average filling, an overall enjoyable dumpling. 

3.75 out of 5

No I don't want soup or a salad, next time there better not be, I know you are reading this, Blossom. It might even help you get an extra quarter of a point, or at least throw in a couple more and give me 8 like every other joint around. 

Respectable dumpling. 

Eric 

Hong Meas (East Providence, RI)

The volatility index of Hong Meas in East Providence is often quite high. Some nights the food is savory and delicious. Other nights the same meal might taste like a cardboard sandwich covered in soy sauce. The dumplings, however, are often consistently strong, bringing in a decent rating.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Keep eating, hombres

Tyuck

China Dragon Dumplings (Myrtle Beach, SC)

China Dragon

Dumplings

Not sure these were amazing dumplings, because my expectations were outrageously low in trying to find good dumplings in the south, or these were actually amazing dumplings.

Great Dumpling, good sauce.

Do you China Dragon, Do you.

(Then again, they could've been trying to impress me. It's not everyday a genuine dumpling critic rolls into the joint)

4.5 out of 5

Eric

Lucky House Dumplings (Sparta, NJ)

Unfortunately as I write this, Lucky House in Sparta, NJ is no more, but their dumplings will remain forever a chart topper in my book. Hands down the best dumplings in all of northern NJ if not the entire state. Bold words, but I stand by them.

Lucky House was this tiny Chinese restaurant on the corner of a strip of shops in Lake Mohawk. If you live in or around Sussex County and were driving through Lake Mohawk, odds are that you passed Lucky House and instantly put it on your "I will never set foot in that restaurant, let alone put anything made inside into my body" list, and you would have been missing out. Inside this lowly, shamble of a Chinese restaurant, the most beautiful, delicious, dumplings to ever grace my lips were made.

When I ordered dumplings at Lucky House I didn't order 4 or 8 or even 12, no I would at minimum get 16. Pan fried of course, I don't mess with steamed dumplings unless I'm forced to because the jabroni of a restaurant only makes them that way. These pork dumplings were perfect. The dough to filling ratio was outstanding. There was enough dough that the dumpling had sufficient structural integrity for dipping into the dumpling sauce (which is served everywhere but no one knows the name  and it's not just soy sauce) that was also amazing. These bad boys were chewy and could take a hardy bite and not fall apart in your hand or off the chopsticks (or fork). They absorbed sauce, but didn't become saturated and overpowered by it. The filling was flavored to the nines. Not bland, like other restaurants, and not overly fanciful, like those trying to be hip and cool restaurants, that cater to people who need assistance from palmolive to get their pants on. No these dumplings were a no nonsense, good dumpling. They weren't trying to spice them up or parade them around like something they were not. It was a great dumpling and one that will be missed for more than just a few years maybe even my entire life (there are still a lot of places to try).

Every time I would come home from school, I would want to, no need to, stop and get some dumplings from Lucky House. Every dumpling from here on out will live in the shadow of those perfect dough covered nuggets of amazing. Here's to you Lucky House Dumpling, Here's to you.

5 out of 5

for those of you who have never had the privilege of eating a Lucky House dumpling, I am truly sorry

(I would love to have had a picture to post with this blog post, but Lucky house is only a memory now, until I find that little old lady who made them and have her make me a least 400 and freeze them in a dedicated dumpling freezer)

Eric

Dumpling Hunters

Dumplings. We find em, taste em, and tell you how we feel about them. Tucker and I will eat dumplings anytime, anywhere.