Wok & Roll (New Bedford, MA)

People only go to New Beige for a few things. Work, The New Bedford Whaling Museum, or transient use of the highway as a means to leave New Beige. Through an utter miracle of circumstance, I found myself at the Wok and Roll by Sid Wainer and Son, a growing distribution company in the area, and I thought I had found myself a little dumpling gem.

For those of you who know us, E and I value only the most delicious dumplings. Those made with love, heart, passion. We value the dumpling maker that looks at each and every dumpling and says, "You, my sweet dumpling, are a piece of art." And what ensues is a delicious roller coaster of taste bud orgasms, explosions of the senses due to dumpling ecstasy.

Let's focus, now, on the microcosm that is Wok and Roll. There is not much to say for the interior décor. Plastic tables, chairs, etc. Sitting in the Wok and Roll is not an experience. And, dare I say it, neither are the dumplings. I was impressed with their delivery - if you are looking for a quick fried dumpling, this is the place to go. Stop in and pick up somw noodles and some sweet pork. However, due to its haste, the dumplings were not as crispy brown as I appreciate. The dough to pork ratio was appropriate, and the soy sauce was delicious and savory, with many accoutrements to add taste. I will say, in addition, that the Wok and Roll is one of the more appealing destinations in New Beige.

If you're ever in the area, stop on by and pick up some quick dumplings here with a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. Don't get the crab rangoon. You will regret it.

Until next time.

Tyuck!

Good Taste (Hamburg, NJ)

In the dumpling game it gets pretty hard to remember where you have gotten dumplings before, unless they blow your socks off. So, I was driving home when I decided to act on the ever present dumpling craving. I thought I'd try Good Taste, thinking I haven't them before. Nope I have had them before; they were just so underwhelming I wiped ever having them from my memory.

Looking back on my previous entry of these dumplings, everything I said before still stands. They cant even get the portions right. Last time I had six, this time seven, c'mon man. These dumplings were big, but that doesn't always translate to a quality dumpling. The filling could've been a contender at one point, these though not even close. Dough to meat ratio was a little shoddy, and the sauce being straight soy, which I should've remembered, was horrible.

Try for me one time Good Taste and maybe I'll have good things to say. Do I really have to go out of my way to bring my own dumpling sauce from another joint to give you a fair rating ? In baseball you get three strikes, but in the dumpling world you're unbelievably lucky to even get a second chance.

1.7 out of 5

I'm disappointed in myself guys thats two redo reviews.

Be Better (That's a reminder to myself and Good Taste)

Eric

Fu Da (Burlington, VT)

It's amazing that I've lived in Burlington for 4 years while in college and never once been to FuDa, or even remember ordering dumplings. When visiting buds then, it's only fitting that Tyuck and I team up and both give you the first tandem dumpling review. From the instant we walked in I knew I was in a prime dumpling location. The tables, all located to one side of the room, the unused buffet station, the random plants, and the cardboard boxes full of sauce packets, I knew I was in for something good. I ordered some dumplings and the out came those beauts. I was immediately taken aback at how many we got, and was not expecting the 8 even though thats a pretty standard number.

Now to the dumplings themselves. Crisp was on point. These are how all dumplings should be, straight out of the wok on to a styrofoam plate, and in front of my face in no time.  Dough to Meat ratio was good, sauce nailed that too. My only gripe was that I haven't been there 6 years earlier. These were some serious dumplings. The vibe was exactly what got me into the dumpling game in the first place.

4.2 out of 5

Eric

Pandan Room (Hackettstown, NJ)

Pandan Room is my go to Thai restaurant, and I always go curry FYI. But today in addition to my curry, I had to get some dumplings. Obviously, these are pork. I wish they were fried, but these we re bonus dumplings so cant complain. The sauce was much more thai inspired than the usual Chinese restaurant sauce and had a bit more sweetness.

Aside from the outside not having that amazing crisp from a hot smoking wok, the dough was pretty spot on. Not to much. The filling was tasty as well, again a little more spice, because thats how Thai does it. I think I have never been to Thailand, but I have eaten my fair share of dumplings.

Being bonus dumplings and not expecting to even have them when I went to go get Thai, they were pretty good.

3.5 out of 5

Middle of the road dumpling. Throw on a few more on that boat plate for me and we'll chat again Pandan Room.

Eric

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

Sushi Ya (Sparta, NJ)

Sushi Ya isn't my go to sushi spot. That doesn't mean if I'm craving a little late night raw fish, I'm not not going to consider it. When I don't feel like driving to Mt. Arlington, it does the job. That being said I always go gyoza at sushi joints. Need a little land based animal appetizer to warm you up, to  remind you that fish ain't the only star of the show, especially if that pork is wrap in tasty crispy dough.

Gyoza is always a great option because its always crispy and light, Sushi Ya is no exception. They have a great filling, nice and crisp, and a good sauce. All around a quality dumpling, but even a grade A dumpling at a sushi place is still overshadowed. It's like finding the best hamburger in the world at a steakhouse, people will still only care about their porterhouse.

That being said,

3.7 out of 5

Not memorable, but a crucial component of any Sushi Ya meal, and if you're trying for a quick sush meal, its a requirement.

Eric

Hunan Wok 2.0 (Sparta, NJ)

While Tyuck is galavanting around in Asia, I'm here in the Garden of Eden fro dumplings; yes you guessed it New Jersey. Asia might seem like the most logical place to get dumplings, but any real connoisseur knows the the great New York Metropolitan area is the primer dumpling hotspot.

Sparta seems to have a Chinese place every 10 feet. These morsels of heaven come from Hunan Wok. Now Hunan Wok is across, so its about time I try them out hot. Other then not having rated these dumplings properly before (see previous Hunan Wok post), I am also coming down with a cold so I obviously needed some dumplings to help boost my immune system. Vitamin C wishes it was on the same level as a fried dumpling.

I went in with my expectations not too high, I was just looking for a quick dumpling and one I haven't properly rated. These blew my socks off for not expecting much. The dumpling center was tasty, the dough ratio was great, but those alone would have only made these good dumplings. What took this dumplings from good to potentially my new replacement for Lucky House (Never Forget), was the sauce. It was so much more than just your standard soy sauce with chives thrown in it. It elevated the dumplings to another level. Its like when you open a brand new pair of socks on wear a pair right out of the bag. That feeling of fresh socks makes you feel like you could climb everest, if you weren't currently scrolling through the TV looking for something to catch your attention for the next 20 minutes. This sauce was a pair of new socks. Sure maybe after a while of eating it its allure wears off, sure it could possibly be I haven't had a dumpling in a bit, or I'm coming down with a bit of a cold, but deep down I know this sauce was a fresh pair of white crew socks fresh out of the package and with that I give these dumplings-

4.1 out of 5

Eric

Now where did I put my socks.