Niu Noodle House (New York, NY)

Sometimes you just have to kick back and and have a low key day, and how else does any low key day end other than with dumplings. After a classic NYC day, we came back and ordered up some soup dumplings from Niu Noodle House. Obviously eating dumplings in bed is the pinnacle of a dumpling bloggers career, as I continue my conquest over everything dumpling in Manhattan. 

These dumplings were pretty good. I was pretty exhausted when I was eating these so with that little bit of knowledge, I'll give you the scoop. These dumplings came perfectly intact which is sometimes a major issue in the soup dumpling delivery game. the broth was flavored well, but I felt like it needed a little bit more pork thrown in there or something for some added bit. The dough was not too thick, which can be a total downfall of a soup dumpling. 

These dumplings were a perfect little end to a very solid NY day, plus anytime you don't have to put on pants to eat dumplings is basically heaven. 

4 out of 5

Eric 

Beantown Pho and Grille (Boston, MA)

A great man once told me that when life gives you dumplings, you better bring the soy sauce. That man is my coconspirator and fellow blogger Eric Mac, the one true tri-state king of the dumplings.

But if you find yourself around here in good old Boston, home of revolutionary liturgy and the Boston tea party, look no further than Beantown Pho and Grille. Right on Newbury Street, this small mom and pop shop won't disappoint. With Vietnamese roots, their specialty Pho dishes are also not to be missed out on.

This beautiful dish came out after a quick ten minute wait on their nice outdoor patio area, and they were savory and sweet. All the things you could ask for in a dumpling, by way of meat and dough and most importantly, love. Don't pass this place up on your way through.

4 out of 5 stars for the dumigs at Beantown Pho and Grille.

Until next time fellow travelers

Tyuck!

Xi'an Famous Foods (Nolita, New York, NY)

So these lil guys are another recommendation from my dumpling plug, she knows who she is, Holla. They are the Spicy & Sour Lamb Dumplings from Xi'an in Nolita. First, impressions walking into this little restaurant was this is about to be some great dumplings made here. The place is tiny, and decorated with big pictures of the menu items, which I'm always a huge fan of. The divey-er the better when it comes to me and Chinese places. 

Xi'an is famous for it's noodles, but this ain't a noodle blog, so I'm bringing in the lamb dumplings. The presentation alone is spot on for this little hole in the wall, I mean look at that pic. Either they know I'm a big deal in the dumpling circuit or they are just OG's in the game.  They come already sitting in the sauce, so one might expect them to be soggy, Wrong. The dough was a bit thicker than the more recent dumplings I've been eating. This wasn't a bad thing at all though because it helps them stand up to the drenching of sauce. The filling was great, and the sauce definitely added that little bit of heat to jazz 'em up.

If you're going to Xi'an to grab noodles, do yourself a favor and try the dumplings, they are worth it.

4.8 out of 5

Eric 

Mimi Cheng's Round 2 (New York, NY)

What kind of dumpling critic would I be if I didn't review the July special dumpling at Mimi Cheng's. These beauties are the beautiful collaboration between Black Tap and Mimi's. They are essentially the dumpling equivalent of the Greg Norman burger. I had a good feeling going into try these. Black tap, love, Mimi's, love, Greg Norman, love. I was not disappointed in these gems. They definitely captured the essence of a burger. The filling was juicy, the arugula and tomatoes added a little extra something, something. The ranch on the side was the perfect compliment, to the burger ling's. I would say go grab some but you only have a day left.

In all, the peeps at Mimi's always do it right. All things work in this mashup. Keep on keepin on Mimi Cheng's. You can guarantee I'll be bringing you the August special too.

4.5 out of 5

Eric

Nom Wah Tea Parlor (Chinatown, NYC)

Another Thursday, and I'm back in NYC. This time I had a nice insider scoop into Nom Wah Tea Parlor deep in the heart of Chinatown. If you're looking for the genuine, I want to feel like I just got lost in Beijing feeling then Doyer St is where it's at. Nom Wah is a perfect low key laid back vibe on the inside, and a ton of dumpling options. Starting off with the classic pan fried dumplings, and the house special fried dumplings, I knew we were in for a treat. They were both crispy and definitely a sign of things to come. 

Now venturing off the dumpling train, we had to order an order of egg rolls, and these things were monsters. They blow every single frozen egg roll you get when you order  special combo at a classic Chinese restaurant. These things were crispy and definitely lighter than those other ones. Mixed reviews though, but I highly recommend them (Some people weren't a fan). 

Now to the main event, I  went big. I got them all, as if anyone should be surprised. We went with the fried dim sum platter, which had all sorts of fried dumplings on it, and it was amazing. Also got an order of soup dumplings, and shrimp and snow pea leaf dumplings. I know, I know these two orders were steamed but trust me worth it. The fried dim sum platter was amazing, and I would recommend everyone try it at least once, but the two steamed dumpling orders easily stole the show. 

In a tough second place, are the shrimp and snow pea leaf dumplings. These things were packed with shrimp. The flavor was light, but the bite of the shrimp, and how packed they were definitely added some heft to a steamed dumpling offering. Get them.

Finally, the showstopper, the soup dumplings. These things are amazing. the broth and the filling were full of flavor. Don't worry, its not as messy as you think. If you're contemplating getting into the dumpling game these should be high up on the list. If you are even just in the mood to step out of the NYC bustle and want some good food, than definitely stop in to Nom Wah. 

They have the crown so far in NY, but it can easily be taken. 

On to the next,

Pork fried 4.1 out of 5

House fried 4.1 out of 5

Fried dim sum platter 4.4 out of 5

Egg rolls 4.2 out of 5

Shrimp and Snow pea leaf 4.8 out of 5

Soup dumplings 4.9 out of 5*

* I'd give it a 5 out of 5 but I was waiting on water for a while, hey gotta be perfect to get that illusive 5 out of 5.

Eric 

Vanessa's Dumpling House (Chinatown, NYC)

This week I headed on down to Chinatown, because where else does one go to get dumplings. I got a little tip to head on over to Vanessa's Dumpling House because the price per dumpling is crazy cheap and the interior is as bare bones as it gets, and that just sounded like music to my ears. 

Vanessa's Dumplings definitely delivered the decor was perfect, tables and chairs and the extra soda they cant fit into the refrigerator lying around. Spare all that bamboo and koi fish crap, I'm here for dumplings not to feel like I am an extra on Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. I stepped up and was met with my favorite person of all time, a tiny, angry Chinese woman with the sourest look on my face. She doest want any nonsense, just give her your order and take your food, no funny business. Definitely my kind of place, I'm here for dumplings, if your in front of me asking a million questions, this lady would definitely just straight up kick you out, and it's that dedication to customer service that I love. 

So to the dumplings, I obviously had to order all three style of fried dumplings otherwise I wouldn't be doing my job. So I got pork and chive, pork and cabbage, and chicken and basil. All the dumplings came out, and they were all identical which is perfect. Who doesn't love a little game of guess that dumpling.  The pork and chive where the best, the classic go to at all places and here that rang true as well. The chicken and basil, would be second, followed in last by the pork and cabbage. The pork and cabbage where definitely the under-performers of the group. The sauce was ehh, but the price unbeatable, if you're a baller on a budget I would definitely say head on over to Vanessa's. the dumplings were fairly good, nothing crazy just a good old fashion quick, crispy package of happiness.

Pork and Chive 4.35 out of 5

Chicken and Basil  4.15 out of 5

Pork and Cabbage  3.9 out of 5

PS. Make sure if you have a set day to get dumplings like every Thursday, you invite the usual suspects, or they will in fact be a little ang. Just sayin. 

Eric 

Mimi Cheng's (New York, NY)

As most of you guys know we have moved our headquarters to the big apple, but have yet to crush a dumpling spot in Manhattan. So when some friends wanted to grab some dumplings, you know I was immediately down. So we stopped on down to Mimi Cheng's. 

Obviously had to start out with a Brooklyn Summer Ale, before moving on to my order. Had to get both the chicken and the pork, because what kind of dumpling critic would I be if I didn't give you all the scoop on a few of their offerings.

Let's start with the pork, obviously I always go pan-fried, and these were perfectly crispy. The filling was a pretty standard take on the classic dumplings we have all had. Through in their secret soy sauce on it was a marriage made in heaven. The filling was great with flavor, but not full of useless hipstery vegetables that people sometimes throw in. These were an overall very solid dumpling by my girl Mimi.

Now let's move on to the chicken, and what I am going to say might be a little controversial but I think I preferred these to the pork. The dough was crisp like the pork and combined with the same secret sauce, these dumplings definitely fit the bill. The flavor on the filling was on point, and again devoid of all that garbage vegetables they sometimes sneak in, I'm not saying vegetable dumplings are bad, what I am saying is when I order meat, thats all I want. 

If you're down on 2nd and 11 and are looking for a low key place that is reminiscent of a beach bungalow on some island even though you're in the middle of the city, I'd pop into Mimi Cheng's, they also have special dumplings but I'll leave that for another time. Also gotta a hot scoop on another low key dumpling spot that I will obviously check out.

Pork 4.4 out of 5

Chicken  4.7 out of 5 

Eric