I’d consider myself a dumpling connoisseur, and quite frankly it’s disappointing that I haven’t been officially recognised for my services to dumpling testing and consuming.
You could say I’m the Michelin Star-rating equivalent in the dim sum world. Well, I’d like to be.
So with my self-appointed title of New York’s Dumpling Expert, I’ve listed below my top 7 dumpling sellers across the boroughs of New York City.
Related post: 36 Hours in New York City: A Local’s Itinerary
1. Shu Jiao Fu Zhou, Chinatown, Manhattan
295 Grand St, New York, NY 10002
Without fail, Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is the first door I walk through when I land in New York. On my last three visits to the best city in the world, this has been my first port of call and never ceases to amaze me.
It’s become increasingly popular each time I’ve gone back thanks to some viral videos on TikTok, but we always manage to find a seat and the food is always top quality.
There aren’t many other places in the city that you’ll find 10 dumplings for $3, or a plate of peanut butter noodles for the same price. On top of that, even though they’re so cheap, they’re my favourite dumplings in the whole city. And I’ve tasted many.
If I was to live in New York again, you can bet that I’d be having a $6 dinner here at least once per week.
You can see the dumplings from Shu Jiao Fu Zhou in just about every New York vlog of mine, but adding in here below and you can find them 6 minutes into the video:
2. White Bear, Flushing, Queens
135-02 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
This was a recent find of ours and could potentially nab the top spot of my list if it wasn’t so far away.
We spent a day in Flushing, Queens, sampling dumplings, bao buns and peking duck to see if we could find some more dumpling favourites, and this was the stand-out by far.
A hole-in-the-wall shop front, the 12 spicy wontons from White Bear will set you back $10 and this was the best $10 I spent this entire day. So filling, a little bit spicy and the toppings of fried onions and scallions just made it even better.
It’s a trek to get to, but will only cost you the same price as a subway from 9th Street to 14th Street, so definitely worth the $2.75 and time.
You can see these dumplings in my most recent New York Vlog below:
3. Fried Dumpling
106 Mosco St, New York, NY 10013
This was a regular haunt of ours when we lived in New York on a very tight budget. We’d walk to this hole-in-the-wall spot down a side street in Chinatown and grab our 13 dumplings for $5. Where else could you get it that cheap?!
A no-nonsense Chinese lady would hand you the box of dumplings and send you on your way with a fork.
I love this spot so much, especially for a cheap eat as 13 of these fried dumplings would fill you for the evening and was a budget-friendly midweek eat for us before we wandered Manhattan for the night.
You can see these scrumptious dumplings in this New York vlog below, at 6:50:
4. Cafe Himalaya, Lower East Side, Manhattan
78 E 1st St, New York, NY 10009
If you came here for only Chinese dumplings then I’m afraid to disappoint, as New York has some of the best momos (of the Nepalese dumpling variety) on the planet, and I’m about to list three places for you to try.
Compared to your typical dumplings, momos are heavier, packed full of meat and an oil-based sauce. They’re the perfect comfort food on a wet and miserable day.
One of our favourite spots to have momos in New York, is the Himalayan Cafe in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It feels almost like a university-student spot, a little rough around the edges but always hard to find a seat any night of the week.
You’ll get cheap, plentiful and super tasty dishes here and I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve dined here over the years. The momos are a must.
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5. Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, Jackson Heights, Queens
74-15 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11372
This has only been a very recent find of ours in Queens. We spent a day exploring Flushing and Jackson Heights on our recent trip to New York and I’m so glad we found this spot in Jackson Heights.
Lhasa Fast Food (next on the list) was always our go-to in Jackson Heights for momos, but I think Bhanchha Ghar may now be the new favourite.
We had the beef momos that came in an orange soup and these are perfect for a cold winter’s day. I can already imagine taking the train here on a miserable, cold New York day just to warm up with this bowl of comfort food. Like a hug in a bowl.
You can also see these delicious momos in my most recent New York vlog below:
6. Lhasa Fast Food, Jackson Heights, Queens
76-03 37th Ave, Queens, NY 11372
A quirky spot for momos in Queens and also known as a ‘secret, hidden gem’ as you won’t find the front of this restaurant on the main street in Jackson Heights.
Instead, you’ll walk through a mobile phone store, down a little corridor and stumble upon a tiny room at the back that serves some of the best momos in New York.
This is a must-visit for the location alone, but the momos are also incredible and very cheap.
7. Vanessa’s, Williamsburg, Brooklyn & Other Locations
310 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
If you ask anyone for dumpling recommendations in New York, they’ll probably list Vanessa’s. While they do serve good dumplings and are very popular, I wouldn’t say they’re my favourite.
With locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Vanessa’s has started to feel less of a local-owned find, and more of a bigger chain-store.
The fried dumplings are their specialty, but I’ve recently come to learn that I much prefer the boiled variety, which Shu Jiao Fu Zhou and White Bear solidified for me. However, I am still partial to a fried dumpling here and there as I love Fried Dumpling in Chinatown.
I’d say Vanessa’s is a good introduction for tourists visiting New York, but there are definitely better locations around the city.
You can see some of Vanessa’s famous dumplings in the below New York Vlog, at 1:02:
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