Mantao: Pan-fried pork & shrimp dumplings

[LeahBaila]

...Are handmade and unbelievably delicious! I think these outshine Prosperity's. The filling is juicy and moist and the skins are thin. Make sure to mix the soy dipping sauce with a spoonful of sambal, and you're golden.

www.thelunchbelle.com

[jon]

the dumplings are great. i would have liked the short rib/kimchi mantao if i hadn't found a big black hair in the middle of it.

[LeahBaila]

Oh no!! The worst is when the hair is unexpected and you "feel" it while chewing. Blegh!!!!!

www.thelunchbelle.com

[notsochubbychubette]

very satisfied...eating them now.

[LeahBaila]

Good to hear it...I'm jealous!!! :)

www.thelunchbelle.com

[Peter Cherches]

I had lunch from there today too. One short rib/kimchee & 1 spicy pork. I didn't have time to wait for dumplings--next time I'll call in my order first.

[notsochubbychubette]

i tasted the spicy wontons too. Meh...not a big fan.

[Briek]

As I sat at my desk last night eating my roast pork noodles from Mantao, I also found a black hair just about the time I was reading this thread. Awesome.

[notsochubbychubette]

I'm going today! thanks!

[LeahBaila]

Enjoy and report back!!

www.thelunchbelle.com

[The Grateful Palate]

I ate at Mantao today for the first time despite having heard some mixed reports. I thought the food was very good. The pork and shrimp dumplings were excellent. Lightly fried and not oily with a delicious filling of pork and nice size pieces of shrimp. The sambal in squirt bottles on the counter is the clincher; it makes everything better.

My favorite sandwich was the short rib and kimchi. It isn't as good as the BBQ sandwich at Ssam, but darn good for midtown. I also tried the burger and the spicy pork, both of which were good.

The place is tiny, but we found seats at the counter. Lots of people were doing takeout. The service was quick and friendly. I will definitely be back. Nice addition to the best lunch block in midtown-53rd street between 2nd and 3rd avenue.

[notsochubbychubette]

are the dumpling wrappers paper thin or a little thicker

[LeahBaila]

They're thin. Did you ever go last night?

www.thelunchbelle.com

[notsochubbychubette]

I didnt! I wanted to avoid the rain and just get home.
I work close to mantao as well, so i can always pick it up for lunch...THanks Leah!!!!

[LeahBaila]

Oh ya...The damn rain. Ugh! Well, whenever you try, report back! :)

www.thelunchbelle.com

[LeahBaila]

Wow, glad to hear it! Funny, I actually wanted to love the short rib and kimchi, but found the beef gristly and overcooked. I'm interested in trying the burger. I can't even imagine how that comes...Will you elaborate? And yes, the sambal makes everything better...I took a couple extra take-away containers for my desk! Good stuff.

www.thelunchbelle.com

[The Grateful Palate]

My short rib was definitely not gristly, but it also was not the greatest short rib you will ever have. My feeling is that the sandwich as a whole is better than the individual parts. Neither the short rib nor the kimchi is the best in its class, but the mantao bread with the short rib and kimchi with a heaping dose of sambal is damn good.

[LeahBaila]

Agreed...That bread is great and I could drink the sambal with a straw. The dumplings truly shine, though.

www.thelunchbelle.com