Garden State Restaurant (Jersey City, NJ)

Expanding out of the sixth boro and into Jersey City, brought me to Garden State Restaurant. Obviously, I seamlessed because who wants to venture out and get something when it can be brought to me. I know it does soften up the crisp but a solid 'ling will hold up to the quick jaunt over here to Hoboken. 

Now at first glance this dumplings looked very promising. The golden brown surface is what I dream about on a regular basis, and if it were a paint color I'd paint my room the same.But that was one of the few good things about these. The filling was tasty, but it was lost in the dough. Way to much space up in there. I need to bite into meat, not an air pocket. The sauce was the biggest let down. It wasn't straight soy, which I'm sure most of you are thinking. This sauce had a little bit of chili thrown in there, but just wasn't a good complement. Don't go off the rails. Dumpling sauce is the GOAT because it doesn't need to be tweaked. Maybe they don't know the recipe, but they better find it out, and find it out fast. 

2.7 out of 5

Eric 

Still have UNC taking it all. 

Asia Sushi (Hoboken, NJ)

 In college March Madness beginning was a glorious day, college basketball on all day, a case of beer, and of course chinese food. Now that I'm in the real world and a dumpling magnet, it's only fitting I continue the tradition. Obviously, being older swapped out the Chinese with Sushi, but kept the main staple, the dumplings.

By now most people should know that I have eaten my way up Washington St, in Hoboken. Next on the block Asia Sushi. Now these are traditional chinese dumplings, which is a lane departure from Japanese gyoza at most sushi spots, but I mean that's great for me. These 'lings weren't anything special. They are like the UVM catamounts in the tournament. Sure these dumplings would make it to a Hoboken dumpling bracket, but they are definitely being a low seed and not making it out of the first round. Fried, good. Sauce, bland. Filling, leaves something to be desired. I know getting dumplings at a sushi restaurant is like ordering the chicken at a steakhouse, but if I see dumplings on the menu and not order them, would anyone value my authority on dumplings. I know I wouldn't. 

Decent weekend of basketball, horrible weekend for gambling, and an average showing from these dumplings. 

2.9 out of 5

Eric

UNC wins it all 87-83. Put it in the books. 

The Dumpling Spot (New York, NY)

The Dumpling Spot had a soft opening last week. I had high hopes for this off shoot of one of my favorite dumpling spots, Xi'an Famous Foods. The thoughts of their lamb dumplings were floating through my head, so the hype was definitely in my head.

Walking in I was pretty excited. It's the same interior as Xi'an not surprisingly, and the wall is plastered with large photos of dumplings and pot stickers. Keeping with tradition I went with the Pork and Cabbage dumpling. I know, I know. Eric why didn't you go with the pot stickers they are fried? Well this isn't pot sticker adventurers. Back to the dumplings. The shear amount blows every other spot out of the water. Maybe 150% of a normal chinese spot in the city. 

The dough to filling ratio was spot on. Big enough for that dumpling satisfaction, but small enough to one bite them. Very nice. However, the inside was lacking for me. I know cabbage and pork not the epitome of flavor city, but these just didn't hit me with that left hook like the spicy and sour lamb dumplings at their other restaurant. The sauce, I went with spicy, and that helped a little, but the overall dumpling is/ was still stuck in the shadow of a much better dumpling. 

3.4 out of 5

Eric 

It'll be interesting to see how the Dumpling Spot works out, and don't worry I'll of course try the rest of the 'lings and pot stickers. Couldn't jump out of the gate with all of em everyone should know my style by now.

Nom Wah Nolita (New York, NY)

 If dumplings are the best things in the world, than that would make the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick, the absolute WORST things in the world. The only thing that could have even tried to make the Super Bowl watchable is a dumpling. And that's where the above 'lings enter in to the picture. 

When the best dumpling plug and all around mogul, Izzy, told me she was bringing Nom Wah dumplings over to watch the big game, I was speechless. Luckily, she told me over the phone too, so I avoided all possibility of fainting in front of her. Not only was she bringing dumplings, and herself on over to watch the game, or at least the half time show in her case, but these dumplings were a special edition 'ling. These 'lings were chopped cheese flavor 'lings. For all of you out there unfamilar with what a chopped cheese sandwich is, it is basically a cheese burger chopped up with lettuce, and tomato thrown on top.

These lings were stuffed with ground beef and cheese, and expertly garnished with lettuce tomato, and what I assume is thousand island dressing, by none other than the GOAT herself, Iz. The crisp held up even though they were crammed in a serving tray and covered, while being transported across state lines. The insides were packed full of cheesy, hamburgerish flavors. FYI, I've never had a chopped cheese sandwich so I couldn't tell you how close they got to nailing the flavor, but these 'lings were primo. Throw in some crisp lettuce and a little tomato action on top with some sauce, and I don't think I could even eat a real chopped cheese sandwich anymore. Once you have something in dumpling form, you can throw out the original.

These dumplings were the ultimate big game snack. Huge crowd pleaser.

4.89 out of 5

Eric

Anotha shoutout to the plug Izzy, who not only supplied the dumplings, but also introduced me to Nom Wah. XO. 

Illuzion (Hoboken, NJ)

I order sushi, strictly for the gyoza. I'm getting close to hitting all of the Hoboken sushi/chinese. Just throw Illuzion on the list today. Gyoza here obviously ordered. I went classic pork. Always. go. classic. pork. at least at first.They had a couple other flavors on their menu, but I'll leave them for anther person to try.

The gyoza here, are pretty good. The crisp stayed crisp even though I ordered them delivery. If you order pick up you're a chump, or just not a dumpling mogul. These gyoza were flavorful on the inside, I liked the fact that the dough wasn't too much. Can't have a thick dumpling like dough, on a sleek tender gyoza. I like my gyoza to be almost translucent. These were a decent gyoza.

Sushi is a totally different game, and I'm sure someone out there has a review on illuzion, but it's not me. I would get these again sure, but there are better dumplings and better gyoza out there.

3.8 out of 5

Eric MacPherson

Flushing, I'm coming for you.  

Ling-ling (Bridgewater, NJ)

Long days seem a little less long when you throw some 'lings down at lunch. These dumplings are brought to us by Ling-ling, the restaurant so nice they named it twice. Never been before so I can't vouch for how accurate that previous statement is, but on to the stars of the show.

Fried. Pork. Dumplings. Now these dumplings had a good crisp and good texture. The dough had a good bite. Aside from that, these dumplings didn't shine too bright. They were lackluster in taste. The filling was ok, and the sauce was ehh. The service though, grade A. Waiter was all time, props to that guy, If you're looking for a solid, quick, lunch dumpling in the Bridgewater area, I think Ling-ling is a decent little spot.Great lunch deals too.

3.1 out of 5

Eric

How come whenever a soup comes with the meal and I tell the waiter, I don't want any soups, they look at me like I have 7 heads? Like seriously it's alright don't waste your soup on me. I came for one thing and one thing only...dumplings. Keep the soup in the kitchen, I promise it's cool. 

Mimi Cheng's January Special (New York, NY)

Another month, another Mimi Cheng's special 'ling. This month is none other than the brunchling, and I for one couldn't have been more excited at this announcement. Combining my love of both breakfast foods, and dumplings can only lead to a delicious experience. 

These 'lings are stuffed with scrambled eggs, onions, sausage, and cheddar, and fried and topped with everything seasoning. Bam. These dumplings have climbed to number one on my Mimi Cheng's special list, which has some heavy hitters on it already. How can you not love a breakfast bite tucked into a beautifully crispy dumpling skin. The crunch, phenomenal as always. The insides, although simple, are spot on. It's hard to mess up eggs and sausage, but that doesn't mean its not an A+ lineup. Somethings, just work, like those guys. Throw in some ketchup on the side to dip into, if you're into that sort of thing, and you are left with my favorite special dumpling of the month to this point. 

It's no secret I am a breakfast food fanatic, surpassed only by my love of dumplings. Combine those two and I am in absolute heaven.

BOOM

Eric 

4.9 out of 5

These brunchlings scoring this high, is completely different than the classic pork fired dumpling scale I use. Apples and oranges up in here. 

Drunken Dumpling (New York, NY)

All the hype around the Drunken Dumpling stems from their giant Xiao Long Bao, but honestly I'm not about that life. It's way more soup than actual dough, I'm sure the broth is tasty, but I'm a fried guy through and through. 

Drunken dumpling does offer a good array of dumplings though, so it'll definitely call for multiple trips. This time we went with the shrimp and wood ear mushroom, the pork and bell pepper (obv both fried), and the classic pork xiao long bao. 

Starting with the shrimp. These guys were perfectly crispy. The dough to filing ratio was spot on. A solid dumpling exterior. However, the middle was a little bit lackluster (for some people). The subtle wood mushroom flavor was there; I just wish the shrimp wasn't ground. I think a whole shrimp would've elevated this 'ling. Subtle flavor but great crisp and exterior to go along with a nice chili sauce made for a pretty decent dumpling.

Now, moving on to the soup dumplings. The dough on these guys was very light, exactly how I like my xlb. The broth was a lot more smokey than many of the xlb's I've had around the city, which was a nice change of pace. They were't overly hot either, where I have to worry about potentially tasting nothing for the rest of the week because boiling lava hot broth came gushing out. A very solid xlb, just one criticism is that the spoons are way to small, way to small. Beef those puppies up a little bit. I felt like I was balancing an egg on a pencil. I don't want to waste any broth and if the dumpling is twice the size of the spoon, that's a real possibility.

Now moving on to the best dumpling of the night. The pork with bell peppers. Like the shrimp, the exterior was perfectly crispy. Again, not to soggy, not pointier than a Dorrito; somewhere right in the middle, where all fried dumplings should exist. The filling wasn't bland, it definitely tasted more like a classic Chinese take-out 'ling which is what I wanted/expected. A very solid staple dumpling. No frills, all business. Give me that day in and day out. A dumpling that you know gets the job done, no questions asked. 

Shrimp and mushroom 3.9 out of 5

Xiao long bao 4.0 out of 5

prok with bell pepper 4.3 out of 5 

Eric 

Don't worry I'll be back to finish off the rest of the menu over there, including the XL XLB. So relax.