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.

Stout FiDI (New York, NY)

 Whenever I think of a quintessential Irish Pub, I think of three things, beer, sports, and dumplings. Yeah you heard it, dumplings. If you're an Irish bar with dumplings you rank high on the list of Irish bar, arguably better than Irish bars in Ireland, unless they have dumplings too. Now I will be straight up, the first time I saw these on the menu, I did not order them. But Eric, how could you see dumplings and not order them, relax people, I got around to it.

Off the bat, hearing the words roll of my tongue while I was ordering dumplings here was a bit weird. When these bad boys came out to the table, I was pretty surprised. The presentation was not to shabby, although bold move putting fried dumplings in a steamer basket. Don't think a veteran of the game didn't see that move. 

Now the dumplings themselves, were very crispy, but also maintained a little bit of the chew from the dough. The filling was alright, and the sauce was better than just serving with soy, but weaker than the traditional dumpling sauces. I will say these dumplings were not bad, especially going in with low expectations.  Loads of green onions though, but I have a feeling this chef was all about the presentation, must've known I was the guy getting them

4 out of 5

Eric 

Irish pub dumplings, being better than half of the dumplings I get from actual Asian restaurants is a little disappointing. Be better people.

Tasty Dumpling (New York, NY)

When the Mets lose, the Houston Cougars lose, the Jets lose, and you get runover by a car on your bike, there's only one thing that could turn the week around...yep, dumplings. For this review I called up my friend Tony, born and raised in China, now living in Chinatown. I asked him where we should get dumplings, since I finally had someone that could read all the signs. 

We ended up in Tasty Dumpling. A tiny little spot next to my favorite park, where everyone is playing Chinese chess, and there is definitely gambling being placed on the matches. So we went in and Tony did his thing speaking Chinese to the woman in the back. As he did that I looked around and noticed, this place was packed all of them tourists too. I don't know who the PR manager is, but they deserve all of the money. I don't know what backroom deal went on to put them on a must eat list for all of these tourists, but good on them.

 We ended up getting some chive and pork, and cabbage and pork. They were alright, definitely not living up to the hype of all these tourists. The chive and pork were better, than the cabbage and pork. The chive had some layers of flavor, the cabbage though nothing special. They were a tad bit greasy too, and not as crispy as they could have been. Soy sauce as a dumpling sauce too should tell you everything you need to know. Lackluster and I can give you 5 better dumpling spots within a 10 block radius. 

Chive and pork 3 out of 5

Cabbage and pork 2.8 out of 5

Eric 

PS. again props to the marketing person here, because they are definitely not spending the money on interior, and how else do they get all these tourists jammed in there. There's a list of top dumplings out there and the only logically explanation for why Tasty Dumpling is on it, is the writer is receiving a lifetime supply of dumplings, and if that is the case I don't blame him/or her one bit. 

Confucius (Jersey City, NJ)

Another Thursday which means another dumpling review. These come from Confucius in Jersey City. Obviously, pan fried, pork, everyone knows the drill, I'm still looking for my go to dumpling. These dumplings, are decent. They will not be more go to but they are okay. The dough was thinner than what I want in a go to dumplings. the filling was packed inside, but the dough along the edge was too much. The filling flavor was good, not bland, but nothing to write home about. The sauce was clearly just soy, so that wasn't bringing anything into the table. Confucius won't be the go to spot, decent dumpling though.

3.7 out of 5 

Eric

Thai Sliders & Co (New York, NY)

There's only one type of medicine I take and that is dumplings. So when I heard there we're dumpling vitamins out there I had to try them. Now full disclosure, I wasn't the one that order these tiny drops of heaven, but you better believe I tried them.

These dumplings are from Thai Sliders & Co in the FiDi. Now right of the bat, I love the fact that they give you a ton of these gems. Sure they probably don't add up to eight full size dumplings, but it doesn't even matter with these.

The dumplings themselves, were very tasty. They were still juicy even though they are so small. The filling was spot on, the fry was good, and they still had the doughy goodness I crave. Being Thai, the sauce that came was not the traditional soy based sauce. Instead, it was a red spicy pepper dipping sauce, which was bomb. They nailed the flavor, just a perfect amount of spice. I hate Thai places that spit out flaming lava as a dipping sauce. Get out of here. I'm trying to taste my food, not have my tongue fall apart. This sauce, though, was a perfect accompaniment.

4.6 out of 5

Eric

Dumpling Vitamin prescriptions for everyone.

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.