Suteishi (New York, NY)

I have realized I eat sushi way more than I think. After moving across the river it was time for another dumpling and sushi place go to search. Just when I had Hoboken figured out, I up and move locals. Hey the dumpling game can't get complacent. I'm here to review 'ling's and if places know where I live all the time they might start giving me preferential treatment, and that ain't right. 

First on the chopping block for nearby sushi spots, Suteishi in the Seaport. I'm a huge seaport fan, I love the vibes, the architecture, the parking battles that ensue over the limited amount of parking spaces around, all of it. So a sushi place right out side my apartment would be huge, the only way it could get better would be if it served up some grade A gyoza. 

No right off the bat, the dough on these guys wasn't as thin or crisp as I'd like. The sauce was much better than a sauce that is usually served at sushi spots. the filling didn't blow my socks off. If I wasn't a student of the game and take pictures of every dumpling that crosses my path, I'd have forgotten all about them.

3 out of 5

Eric

Otaiku (Bayonne, NJ)

 Dumplings are always amazing, no two ways about it. However, dumplings with a free bear courtesy of grande jefe, on my last day of work are that much better. Usually, for lunch we are going out to Wendy's and grabbing a 4 for 4, or scooting over to Burger King and loading up on zesty sauce packets, but on a last day you just have to go out with a bang. It was not a secret that I am a legend in the dumpling game, so it was sushi and Sapporos for lunch. 

On the chopping block the gyoza for Otaiku. Now patrón was hyping up his dumpling knowledge, so a live review in front of him had to happen. These guys were a good gyoza dough. the crisp was there, I could see the filling through the paper skin, which is a hall mark of a quality wrap job. The filling had a good flavor and picked up where the sauce was lacking. The sauce wasn't straight soy, but it lacked a little something something. 

All in all can't complain about eating dumplings and sipping on beers for lunch, instead of grinding out work. With that said I'm gonna miss it over there, who's gonna keep everyone on their toes over there without me is something I'm waiting to see.

4.3 out of 5

Shout out to Patrón and the lunch squad, way better than eating in the clubhouse. 

Eric

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

Formosa (Iowa City, IA)

When in Iowa, you obviously have to get sushi. I mean it does boarder the Mississippi, so you know it's going to be good. Whenever, you go get sushi, dumplings have to accompany it. It is a classic combination like peanut butter and jelly. 

Now Iowa, has already far and away surpassed everything I have thought. These dumplings did the same thing. I know again with the steamed, but beggars can't be choosers. The sauce was good, again your classic midwestern soy sauce combo (TM). The dumplings were spot on no complaints, the filling was nice, the size was perfect. Throw in the tropical Iowa weather and eating outside, and these dumplings knocked it out of the park. 

Iowa was a perfect 2 for 2 in the dumpling category, which is surprising granted that all four Iowans I know haven't even heard of them before. 

4.2 out of 5

Eric 

Final verdict if you are from the East Coast and have a spare 15 hours lying around and you want to experience a cool town known not just for their dumplings, it pains me to say this but Iowa City is pretty dope.

Sushi Lounge (Morristown, NJ)

So I was down in Morristown celebrating a friend's birthday and eating sushi for like the 5th time in 2 weeks, I should probably cut down. Walking into an asian restaurant, I obviously go straight for the dumplings. I immediately put in for an order of gyoza, and out they came.

First, thing I notice is that these puppies are gigantic, and honestly I'm not a fan of big dumplings. Cut them in half, give me 8 smaller ones, is that so hard. I bit into them and they were okay. Much more heavily influenced by the veggies inside than the actual pork. Sauce was pretty good, however.

Maybe after the several sakai bombs I had, they would rank a little higher on my radar. Then again, whenever you go into a sushi restaurant it's more about the raw fish. Definitely concentrate on that aspect first, 10 times out of 10. If I wake up in the night with stomach pains because of raw fish, I don't care how great the dumplings were.

Sushi Lounge dumplings are okay. They gotta cut back on there size and then we can talk. Sauce is good. Dough was great, filling ehh. With that being said...

Ahhhhhhh ahhhhhh....sakai bomb,

3 out 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