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. 

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.  

Komegashi Too (Jersey City, NJ)

 Hopped on over to Komegashi Too, last week for a little dumpling/ office party Thursday. I mean how could I not, open bar, unlimited sushi, and the cherry on top all you can eat dumplings. Now granted whenever dumplings are made in huge quantities and kept hot by a sterno, they are setting themselves up for failure, so I wasn't going in to strong. I also had to go in fast though, before the effects of the open bar start to appear. 

That being said, these were some solid 'lings. They were a tiny bit soggy but that comes with the territory of having to hang out in the buffet dish, but I can look that off if the taste is there. Komegashi Too, they had the taste pretty on point. The inside had some flavor, you can taste the chives, it had some substance. Overall good filling; the ratio of dough to filling was spot on, and like I said the only flaw was the dough being a smidge soggy, but its the Christmas season. I will also say get deeper dishes for the dumpling sauce. I need to dunk my dumpling in sauce. It has to be submerged into that heavenly liquid. I can't be spooning it on to a plate, to then have to mop up like some poor. Get it together this goes for all buffet spots with the small round plates that can barely hold any liquid. I don't want to have to start bringing my own little clear solo sauce container to pour into. Their sauce was good though, even though I was mopping it instead of dunking.

3.9 out of 5

Eric 

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals

That's if I don't post another entry before then, but I probably will. Who really knows though.

Sri Thai (Hoboken, NJ)

When the Jets are on a prime time Monday Night Football game, there's only one thing that could even help me get through this trainwreck of a season...dumplings. I was feeling a little switch up and wanted to get some curry, so that led me down the tracks to find a Thai spot. I have my go to chinese place, my pizza place, now onto my Thai spot. With that said, I ordered some Thai dumplings from Sri Thai. 

First off, steamed dumplings are always behind the 8 ball, so Sri Thai needed to bring the fire...and they fell so flat. The flavor was not on. They were greasy, the dough was way to soft and falling off. The ratio to filling and dough was horrible. How about the fact there wThrow all those negatives with the fact that the Jets played worse than the early movie Little Giants, ya know when half of them didn't even have the right equipment. Actually that's a horrible comparison because those kids had grit and determination and heart. The Jets lacked all of that, and these dumplings could be lumped in that category with them. Heartless, tasteless, greasy, no bueno. 

0.9 out of 5

Eric 

The curry was good though, can't be a hater all the time. 

Okinawa (Hoboken, NJ)

Thanksgiving is a fantastic holiday, but it would be better if it were acceptable to throw in dumplings to the mix. Pass the cranberry canned jelly, and the pork fried dumplings is a sentence that needs to be uttered more in America. It's what the pilgrims would have wanted. Continuing in the great tradition of eating raw fish just like the Native Americans and Pilgrims did like 400 years ago (I think or sometime in the past), I ordered some sush, and obviously some gyoza to start of the meal. 

Surprising these gyoza were still very crisp. The sauce was fairly good, and the filling was tasty as well. The ratio was spot on too. Gyoza being a little thinner than the traditional dumpling is something I always have to consider. These guys did a bang up job. Go to Sushi place now strictly because the gyoza was on point.

4.4 out of 5

Eric 

Some people throw out photo creds. I throw out chopstick creds. Shoutout to Izzy, best chopstick plug in the business, competition is not even close. Look at that tale too. Damn, try to find that bad boy at restoration hardware, not possible. 

Rice Shop (Hoboken, NJ)

 It's Thursday, so here is your weekly dumpling review for all the NY metropolitan, Hudson county living Hobokeners. I'm bringing you Rice Shop this week over on Washington. I ordered both the gyoza and the dumplings, because uhhh they are pretty much the same thing. Beautiful pieces of heaven wrapped in a delectable cloud with a side of pure happiness. Gyoza,dumplings, ravioli, hot pockets, I'll review anything with those three pieces of the puzzle. 

Now right off the back, Rice Shop did not impress. I'm still in love with No.1 Fine. The gyoza were better than the dumplings, but only because they messed up and gave me steamed dumplings like I am some sort of granola eating health nut. If I wanted to be health conscious and order steamed 'lings than I am in the wrong business. 

The gyoza had a decent fry to them the wrapper was nice and thin, the filling though did not bring it. Flavor city, up and moved because there was nothing going on here. Sauce too sub par. Gotta bring the heat, if you want my unyielding support. The dough was crisp just enough to put them over the regular dumplings. 

The dumplings, were steamed. That is pretty much all I should need to tell you. They could have had potential. The filling was super dense and the ratio of dough to filling was pretty good too. Sadly, they followed in the same footsteps as the gyoza. Basically just a dense pocket of tasteless meat. The sauce was wildly underwhelming as well. A one, two K.O. in the dumpling world. I wanted to like Rice Shop, I really did.

Gyoza 3 out of 5

Dumplings 2.8 out of 5

Eric 

Can't blame this low score on my tonsils either, you done did this to yourself Rice Shop 

No. 1 Fine Chinese (Hoboken, NJ)

 People, I think we did it. I think I found my new go to take out spot in Hoboken, and that place is No.1 Fine Chinese. Now it's no secret I like my Chinese take out spots bare bones, with a sassy boss, and boxes of soy sauce packets and plastic forks strewn about. No. 1 Chinese delivered on all fronts. As soon as I called up, I knew I was in for a treat. From barely being able to hear what the lady was talking about, to arriving there and seeing the menu with all its sepia filtered pictures of various menu items hanging above, I knew this was meant to be.

The scene, the atmosphere, everything was setting up for an amazing experience. Now first glance, I popped open the lid, but wasn't immediately floored. They just didn't look like they would be a great ling. As a veteran that's on me, I should have known don't judge a ling by its appearance (totally). I dunked one into the sauce and into my mouth, and it was magical. Its been a while with new spots where I am instantly impressed after bite one. These did it. The dough to filling ratio was impeccable. These beauts, where perfectly filled. the dough wasn't to thick, but did have that pull any true dumpling connoisseur will tell you about. The filling was tasty, but also simple, spare me all those weird vegetables, I ordered pork I want pork, and that's what I got. The fry wasn't overly crispy, either. The sauce. Let me tell you. The sauce is what captivated me with these lings. Finally a place where the dumpling sauce is right. Not just soy with some chopped scallions thrown in. It was a light tangy sauce that perfectly complimented the little morsels of heaven. A complete a total package from the lady yelling at me on the phone to a dumpling that kept me wanting more. 

It is safe to say that No. 1 Fine Chinese, has leaped frog into the number one take out spot in Hoboken...for now. 

4.9 out of 5

Eric 

Also, walking to get Chinese great time to call all the peeps in the phone book. New tradition, I just created so watch out. If you get a late night phone call from me wondering, why is this guy calling me now, it's because I'm walking to get Chinese.

Precious (Hoboken, NJ)

Another week and another Chinese place checked of the list. This time its precious another joint on Washington St. Obviously I ordered them because I walk enough as it is. The dumplings at first glance looked like they were going to be good. They were very crispy with a thin dough, almost gyoza like, which is a good thing, but I was in the mood for more of a traditional Chinese place dumpling.

The crispy outside was actually still very crispy even after traveling 30 minutes while being steamed in those Chinese takeout containers, so good on them. The filling was flavorful. A simple standard pork filling, and the sauce was definitely not just your classic soy sauce. The combo was very good for a take out dumpling. I'm not committed to Precious as my go to Chinese spot, but it did surprise. 

4.1 out of 5 

Eric 

Sushi Lounge (Hoboken, NJ)

My brother was on a huge seemless kick, might actually still be on it actually. After an exhausting day of brunching and leisurely drinking on the pier, sushi felt like the perfect ending for it. Everyone knows that before sushi, I need to order gyoza, need. These gyoza where not the best, and I know everyone would be like "yea, don't order dumplings from a sushi spot, keep with fish," but that wouldn't be me. 

The sauce was good. the gyoza though lacked the pizazz of other ones. Usually gyoza is very, very thin, very crispy, these where a little to thick for my liking. Just call them a dumpling.  The filling was blah. Luckily though, even blah dumplings are better than no dumplings, because if Iz-piece were writing this, it would have been way worse for them. She was not feeling this 'lings, but then again that's why I get paid the big bucks. Although, wouldn't sleep on her review of dumplings, she has had phumplings, while I haven't.

3 out of 5 

Eric 

1.1 out of 5 from Izzy 

PS. one of these days I'll add phumplings to the big board, that'll be when we make it. 

Off the Wall (Hoboken, NJ)

I'm still searching for a go to dumpling spot in the Hobizzle, for a hot minute. Tonight's audition tape is 'Off the Wall," on Washington St. Walking into this place, I already had high hopes, the dishes on the menu pictured on the wall behind the counter, the lone fat goldfish swimming in a bowl, the door making a horrendous squeaking noise, it was heaven. Obviously, had to scoop up some fried pork 'lings, for the trial test. 

The order only coming with 6 is a slight knock on these guys, These 'lings look pretty close to the classic ones I've been searching for, golden fried dough, not too thick not too thin. The dough to filling ratio was on par with some of the better dumplings. The filling was not to shabby either. The fact I had to walk home from the train station 15 blocks only added to the overall taste. 

As of now, Off the Wall has the number one spot in the Hoboken dumpling power rankings

4.7 out of 5 

Eric 

This is an action packed week fur the blog so look out for more posts, including an international post from when Tuck thought it would be a good idea to put all his trust in a giant rubber band and jump into a quarry. 

Aroy-D, the Thai Elephant (Food truck) (Hoboken, NJ)

It's no secret that every Sunday, I devour brunch, preferably bottomless manmosa brunches. This Sunday was no different, however, after brunch we decided to go to Pier 13 in Hoboken and enjoy the rays while simultaneously getting sauced on watermelon punch. I obviously had to get dumplings, because someone has to give the people a verdict on whether or not to order from The Thai Elephant food truck.

Pier 13 has a ton of food trucks, but the only food truck food that matters is dumplings. Aroy-D Thai Elephant fried dumplings fit the bill perfectly. Now, you all know fried dumplings are the far superior dumpling and these pups where deep fried making 'em even that much better. The filling was moist, the crunch was on point. Throw in a nice tangy soyish sauce,  and I think its safe to say these are a great complement to a day out getting boozed up while relaxing in the sun. 

Booze, check. Sun, check. Lawn chairs and Jenga, check. Dumplings, double check. 

I'd order them again that's for sure.

4.4 out of 5

Eric 

Giving me a fork for street food, who do they think I am, pfft.