Nom Wah Nolita Breakfestival Special

Breakfast in a dumpling is my absolute dream. I have been campaigning for a brunchling to everyone I could talk to. So when I heard Nom Wah was going to be at the Breakfestival in Industry City, Brooklyn, from my amazing plug Izzy, I had to scoop them up.

These morsels of heaven were sausage, egg, cheese , scallion, and all deliciousness. They tasted like everything you love about a breakfest sandwich but thrown into a much more sleek and practical delivery system. Now I'm not a shumai fan, and these are much more sumai like, but they are so worth it. If you weren't there, I'm not sure if you'd ever be able to have them again, but you missed out on one of my all time favorite 'lings.

Breakfast in a dumpling will score high all the time.

5 out of 5

Nom Wah killing it again

Eric 

 

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

Seoul (New York, NY)

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​You can't be wondering around in Korea Town and not get dumplings. So when the crew opted for churros at Sweet Churro, I opted for dumplings at Seoul, because who would listed to my reviews if I went with a churro over a 'ling. 

These dumplings came out piping hot, straight out of the fryer. The inside was a pork, veggie mixture, and tasted like a egg roll. It also lacked in flav, but it was a clean, light filling. The dough on these pups, though, is everything. I mean look at that golden brown tan on these, ow ow. The crisp was perfect, adding even more to the overall egg roll taste. The sauce played a minor roll in the flavor of these dumplings, crisp is the star. Don't want to name names...hmmm...but if you don't like egg rolls, you probably won't enjoy these 'lings, if you live for the chinese lunch special with the egg roll and fried rice on the side and are wondering Korea town, pop in and get them. 

A decent dumpling,

3.5 out of 5

Eric 

Pinch Chinese (New York, NY)

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As a dumpling mogul, I am always getting recommendations for new restaurants. Pinch comes highly touted by a dumpling plug of mine. It recently opened up in Soho and had to make a stop. 

We had to order three different flavs of course, ending up going with the classic xiao, the vegetable, and the spicy wontons. In order of deliciousness, I'll start with the vegetable. These lings where an all around clean and refreshing 'ling. they are the perfect cleanser dumpling. They are the ginger to sushi, the sorbet to a five course meal. They are light and vibrant and get rid of all the meaty, spicy flavors of the other 'lings. 

Next up on the chopping block, the Soup dumplings. These are some of the smokier tasting soup dumplings I have had to date. The broth was tasty, and topping them off with some ginger, vinegar, and soy sauce just added to the flavor explosion. These soup dumplings rank high on the list in NYC, right up there with the soup dumplings my plug makes, just don't let him know. I don't want to create a dumpling feud in my backyard. 

Finally, the best of the night, the spicy beef wontons. These pups were smothered in the house spicy sauce, and they were fuego. They weren't fuego hotwise, the spice was nice and pleasent, but they were fuego in the taste department. The filling to dough ratio was spot on. the sauce like I said added the perfect spice element. I'd get these again in a heartbeat. 

Vegetable 3.5 out of 5 

Soup 4.5 out of 5

Wontons 4.9 out of 5

Eric 

BONUS 

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Contrary to popular belief, I eat more than just dumplings, and at Pinch,we had to order an order of the ribs. These bad boys where bomb. They fell right off the bone. They are coated in the same sauce that the wontons where smothered in, and cumin. The cumin stood out. The flavor was a mix of chinese and mexican and all around deliciousness. I'm a huge advocate for always pushing the dumplings because nothing can beat them on a menu...nothing except maybe these ribs. Money...get them you won't be sorry. 

Ribs 5 out of 5

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.