221224 Mon Apr 11 16:39:32 -0700 2005 23 18 Manhattan 0 1176852 Forgive me if this has been mentioned here before but, if it has, I don't recall seeing it... Although there are now several really inexpensive dumpling stands in Chinatown, I just found perhaps the most conveniently located one (if you're coming from the West), in perhaps the most incongruous place of all: as a standalone cooking station inside the seating area of the "Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits" on the Bowery, just north of Canal. We popped in there by happenstance yesterday and tried two different kinds: a steamed pork soup dumpling and a boiled pork & chives dumpling. Although both were rather doughy (i.e. rather "potstickerish") compared to what's found at a more expensive sit-down restaurant, the fillings were surprisingly tasty, especially when combined with the vinegar dipping sauce. And, at 10 dumplings for $2, I'd wager to say it's the best food deal anywhere in Manhattan! Mon Apr 11 16:39:32 -0700 2005 0 newsjoke 1 1176857 um, there are a lot of places with that deal, many of which i imagine are better. Mon Apr 11 16:49:45 -0700 2005 1176852 0 downtownchowhounder 2 1176897 such as...? Mon Apr 11 18:53:48 -0700 2005 1176857 0 JudNYC 3 1176936 ...the dumpling place on Mosco St. in chinatown (next to the Thai grocery store). 5 for $1 (10 for $2, etc.), the aforementioned Dumpling House on Eldridge (combined with the beef on sesame pancake sandwich makes a well rounded meal for less than the subway there and back)... Mon Apr 11 22:19:34 -0700 2005 1176897 0 bothrops_asper 3 1176979 Tasty Dumpling on Mulberry Street south of Bayard (across from the little park). It's a sister location to the Eldridge Street place and is excellent. Tue Apr 12 07:58:22 -0700 2005 1176897 0 Jai 4 1176997 Not nearly as good. Tue Apr 12 09:38:26 -0700 2005 1176979 0 josh L 5 1177049 Just as good, and a more hospitable place to eat. Tue Apr 12 12:06:24 -0700 2005 1176997 0 carbskill 6 1177162 I disagree. I don't think they are nearly as good. Tue Apr 12 16:33:53 -0700 2005 1177049 0 josh L 7 1177179 So you've already said, and the other place is a much more hospitable place in which to eat. Tue Apr 12 17:34:20 -0700 2005 1177162 0 carbskill 8 1177313 Ok, kids, don't make me come back there. I've been on a Dumpling House kick lately; I love the food, but it's certainly not the most comfortable place to eat. Maybe tonight I'll try the place on Mulberry (which certainly looks more comfortable when you walk by) and report back. Wed Apr 13 11:57:07 -0700 2005 1177179 0 Nor'easter 2 1176957 There are indeed a few other place offering this deal, and the quality at those places may be better, but I for one am happy to have someone spend the time to give a heads up on a very unlikely spot to sample some inexpensive dumplings. That is sort of the point of this board, it is far more useful to me for one to have someone post this tip than to ask about post theater dining options or what to order at Babbo. If the dumplings suck, two dollars is not a lot to have wasted on the experiment, and if they happen to be sublime we are all in the debt of the original poster for going in a Popeyes in Chinatown. Tue Apr 12 00:10:19 -0700 2005 1176857 0 Alan Henderson 3 1176996 Its cool that they are hidden but if the dumplings such, who cares? Tue Apr 12 09:37:35 -0700 2005 1176957 0 josh L 4 1177144 Yeah, I agree. I try lots of places every month but never post about them unless they're good or offer something you can't get anywhere else. I tried that Popeyes last year sometime and really wanted it to be good since it was an interesting spot, but it just wasn't. Tue Apr 12 16:07:03 -0700 2005 1176996 0 Peter Cuce 5 1177204 Peter, I certainly respect your opinion, as you and I have previously shared Chinatown bakery tips here... Is it possible the place has improved since last year? When I was there Sunday, the guy cooking the dumplings was a tall, thin, seemingly very friendly Chinese guy who smiled a lot, but didn't speak much English. Of course, that may be meaningless relative to who actually made them before he cooked them. Tue Apr 12 19:42:27 -0700 2005 1177144 0 newsjoke 6 1177208 Hey, at $2, I'm certainly willing to give them another shot. You know, down the street from there is a pretty good bakery, White Swan. Tue Apr 12 20:36:46 -0700 2005 1177204 0 Peter Cuce 7 1177241 Where is White Swan? I find it hard to believe there's a C-town bakery I may not have tried. What do you recommend there? (Is that the tiny little place on Canal? If so, I may have looked inside, not noticed anything "novel," and thus never tried it.) I have to say, despite the massive crowds (at least on the weekends, which is when I'm usually "down" there), I think the best all-arounder is the Taipan on Canal. Also, one of my favorite (albeit, least sophisticated) Chinatown deserts is the $1 peanut brittle they sell on the sidewalks on East Broadway. Wed Apr 13 06:43:15 -0700 2005 1177208 0 newsjoke 8 1177242 Whoops... I meant: is White Swan the tiny place on the BOWERY (not Canal)? Wed Apr 13 06:53:21 -0700 2005 1177241 0 newsjoke 3 1177010 Nicely put. Seconded. Tue Apr 12 10:07:28 -0700 2005 1176957 0 neighbor 1 1176874 what a crazy find! thanks for sharing. a little on the outside of Chinatown on Eldridge just below Broome is a dumpling stand called the Dumpling House (mentioned many times on Chowhound). they make the most wonderful dumplings I've EVER had. ONLY $1 for 5 of them. the dumplings are made by hand, from an old family recipe, with fresh ground pork and scallions, and fried to a prefect golden brown. simply amazing for the price! Link: http://cityrag.blogs.com/main/2004/06/index.html#a0001598839 Mon Apr 11 17:28:31 -0700 2005 1176852 0 elvislives 2 1176913 Yeah, the Eldridge street place is a GREAT deal. Unfortunately, I can't give you a "dumplings to dumplings" comparison to the Popeye's place, as I tried to eat somewhat healthy yesterday, and thus got them boiled at Popeye's. If you (or anyone) tries them fried there, please let me know. Mon Apr 11 19:51:23 -0700 2005 1176874 0 newsjoke 2 1176922 A prefect golden brown? Is that a reference to Mos Def in the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy flick? Mon Apr 11 20:17:00 -0700 2005 1176874 0 big o 2 1176995 The dumplings, as well as the rest of the offerings rock on Eldridge. I particulary like the slow cooked brisket, between scallion pancakes- its succulent and delicious and only $1.50. Try getting that at the Second Ave. Deli! Tue Apr 12 09:35:55 -0700 2005 1176874 0 josh L 1 1176960 Those are practically the worst dumplings I've ever eaten. I took a couple of bites and threw them in the garbage. I wanted to like them, because it seems like something that hidden should be great and interesting, but they were just horrible. Tue Apr 12 00:19:55 -0700 2005 1176852 0 Peter Cuce 1 1177193 This is probably old news, but anybody know the affiliation of the Dumpling House in the Essex Street Market with the oft-talked about (and original) Dumpling House on Eldridge? Same pricing it seems like -- 60 dumplings for 10 bucks, but haven't done a side-to-side comparison. Is it the same owners or a knockoff? Tue Apr 12 18:41:10 -0700 2005 1176852 0 Pupster