Love for the Dumpling House
 

OK, so everyone has been posting about all their favorite Asian foods - sushi, Korean, etc. I love all of those things, but I'd like to spread a little love for a less-recognized (by the white man) but perhaps greatest Asian food mecca:

The Dumpling House.

Now, lots of people have had, and love Dim Sum, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking a full-on joint that serves dumplings, with all kinds of delicious goodies inside.

You sit down and start loading up on baskets full of these hand-made beauties. You dip them in black vinegar and ginger, perhaps some chili sauce. You let 'em pop in your mouth. MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

If you live in LA, go to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia. If you live in the Bay Area, go to the Potsticker King in Cupertino (make sure they don't give you the blasphemous white man menu - look for the Taiwanese specials in 8 pt font on the back of the menu). Get the little dishes of food that are kinda like Tapas, Taiwanese style. Eat lots of dumplings, drink lots of tea. Whole meal should be less that 15 bucks per person.

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Look at the map, which depicts LA approximately in Miami... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

So, let's spread some love for the Dumpling House experience! Do any of you other degenerate foodies have good experiences?!?

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

Damn I love Dumplings! Potsticker King is the one at Cupertino Village correct? LOVE that place!

The best part about going to chinese food with my wife is that I never get the whitey-menu anymore! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I could (and almost do) eat these things all day/week/month/year long!

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3135/dscf0018oh8.jpg

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

There's a fantastic dumpling place (I'm sure there're quite a few others, but this is the one I frequent) on Eldridge St. between Broome and Grand streets in NYC called Dumpling House. They have a couple of other things on the menu, but their main thing is dumplings (specifically the fried ones with pork and chives), which they fry up in batches of 50 or so (maybe more, I've never really counted) and sell five for $1. It's basically a hole in the wall, with maybe 5 stools in the back to sit. The dumplings are fantastic and always fresh as they have a constant stream of customers at all hours of the day or evening. Also good are the sesame pancakes that come with your choice of stuffing (I guess you can call it a sandwich). I forget what the options are but I usually get it with beef. And because of the constant stream of customers everything's freshly made.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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If you live in LA, go to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia.

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Are you chinese, JA? For chinese steamed dumplings, Din Tai Fung has a reputation in some circles as best in the world with one small caveat: the Din Tai Fung in Taiwan is a whole level or two better... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

- Potsticker King is very good...they've actually moved across the parking lot to the building where the hofbrau used to be.

- Shan Dong, 10th St., Oakland Chinatown. Hole in the wall, mismatched tablewear, off-kilter lazy Susans. Tremendous dumplings. I've heard people show up with coolers to buy them frozen and take them home.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

Pork dumplings are one of the most perfect foods ever invented.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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Are you chinese, JA?

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No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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Look at the map, which depicts LA approximately in Miami...

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Well cut them some slack they appear to have put their home base of Taiwan somewhere southeast of the Philippines.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

went to Din Tai Fung in Taipei, sooo good. problem is, its way too expensive, and there are plenty of places that are 2-3 times cheaper that are just as good ... man i love taiwan

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

So, I totally love good dumplings (especially pork). However, I hate Dim Sum dumplings because you have to pick these things and I have no idea what's inside and half the time it's some disgusting thing like those little dried shrimps which I think are totally foul. It's sort of like a mixed box of chocolates where you get the freaking nasty citrus coconut instead of the delicious hazelnut/caramel. Anyone else have this problem or know how to solve it? (usually at the authentic places they don't want to tell you about what's in every dish)

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

By-Tor: What are the chances you would have a chance to post that pic so soon after the aborted first attempt? Haha.

Sucker: Dumplings rule. This was a mainstay in college: Lai Lai's

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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By-Tor: What are the chances you would have a chance to post that pic so soon after the aborted first attempt? Haha.

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[img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

See how I waited a bit to make sure it didn't change to the 'Love for Churches Chicken' thread??

i are learnt!

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

Are there many of these on the east coast? Specifically in DC? I want it now.
Yes/No?

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

I've never found Xiaolongbao in CA, but they're common in NY and the standard place to find them is Joe Shanghai. The dumplings are filled with a rich broth and are delicious.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

Every time I am in LA, I make it my #1 priority to go to Din Tai Fung. I'll be there next weekend!

Hmm..Never heard of Potsticker King. Guess I'll check out this weekend. Which side of Cupertino Village is it on?

I tried HC Dumpling House. They only have like 4 varieties. I thought it was ok.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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If you live in LA, go to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia.

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Are you chinese, JA? For chinese steamed dumplings, Din Tai Fung has a reputation in some circles as best in the world with one small caveat: the Din Tai Fung in Taiwan is a whole level or two better... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Dai Tin Fung rules! Too bad it has a 30-min wait most of the time, but the dumplings explode in your mouth. Mmmmm.

DN

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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Are there many of these on the east coast? Specifically in DC? I want it now.
Yes/No?

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Mark's Duck House in Falls Church VA is the best dim sum I've had on the East Coast. Much better than NY and Boston.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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I've never found Xiaolongbao in CA, but they're common in NY and the standard place to find them is Joe Shanghai. The dumplings are filled with a rich broth and are delicious.

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Xia Long Bao is my favorite dumpling. The broth inside (hence sometimes referred to as "soup dumplings") is so awesome. There are a ton of place in San Gabriel Valley in the LA area that serve XLB, notably and has been mentioned several times, Din Tai Fung.

Also it appears By-Tor is eating XLB, and he is in the Bay Area? (or is that a pic from when you were in China?).

Another great dumpling (also Shanghainese):

Guo Tie

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/Bakingmum/KT.jpg

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Guo Tie (a fried version of Jiaozi): Jiaozi (Chinese transliteration) is a kind of Chinese dumpling, widely popular in China, Japan, and Korea as well as outside of East Asia. This dumpling consists of a ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by crimping. The jiaozi should not be confused with the wonton: the jiaozi dumpling has a thicker skin and is a flatter, more oblate, double-saucer like shape (similar in shape to ravioli), and is usually eaten with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce (and/or hot chili sauce); while a wonton has a thinner skin, is sphere-shaped, and is usually served in broth.

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-Al

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

Kind of a tangent buuuut,

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Damn I love Dumplings! Potsticker King is the one at Cupertino Village correct? LOVE that place!


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Have you been to joy in foster city? Their stinky tofu is amazing.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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Also it appears By-Tor is eating XLB, and he is in the Bay Area? (or is that a pic from when you were in China?).

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Yeah, that pic is from the trip...I assume you are correct that it is XLB, but I'd have to ask the wife since I have no clue and just ate what she told me to. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

Does anyone have any suggestions for the Boston area ... I haven't found a great place yet.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

By-Tor - looks like it, the giveaway is you're using the spoon (so you can slurp up all the delicious broth inside the dumpling).

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but I'd have to ask the wife since I have no clue and just ate what she told me to.

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Haha ok I am officially jealous of you and now miss having a Chinese gf to order for me.

-Al

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

[ QUOTE ]
I've never found Xiaolongbao in CA, but they're common in NY and the standard place to find them is Joe Shanghai. The dumplings are filled with a rich broth and are delicious.

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Xiaolongbao are fantastic. I think you can find them in most Shanghai-style Chinese restaurants. In San Diego, that's Shanghai City.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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The best part about going to chinese food with my wife is that I never get the whitey-menu anymore! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


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LOL @ whitey menu

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you live in LA, go to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia.

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Are you chinese, JA? For chinese steamed dumplings, Din Tai Fung has a reputation in some circles as best in the world with one small caveat: the Din Tai Fung in Taiwan is a whole level or two better... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Din Tai Fung is excellent. Just had it in Singapore not long ago - so good. I would probably agree that it's the best in the world for a chain. I'm sure there's a hole in the wall in Shanghai that is better, but whatever.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

[ QUOTE ]
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The best part about going to chinese food with my wife is that I never get the whitey-menu anymore! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


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LOL @ whitey menu

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There's a place in Mountain View (Shanghai Taste Delight) that me and my co-workers don't go to unless our Mandarin speaking colleague is with us, because he orders from the non-whitey menu.

As for Potsticker King, I was never impressed with it. But I was ordering from the whitey menu.

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

69 rice shoppe
joes shanghai

Re: Love for the Dumpling House
 

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went to Din Tai Fung in Taipei, sooo good. problem is, its way too expensive, and there are plenty of places that are 2-3 times cheaper that are just as good ... man i love taiwan

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Ok, this is interesting - some years ago I went to a 'famous breakfast' place in Taipei after being out most of the night. I was taken there by this rather nice local gal. It was about 5 in the morning I think and the place was packed with the usually spillage and tables on the street, taxis, gangs of people eating, lots of milling about, and dumplings galore along with all the other goodies. The dumplings were super. I stuffed myself. I have no idea what the name of the place was.

When it comes to dumplings I am lacking in knowledge but do know that they are very tasty and come in a great variety. Some are very light fluffly things with a hint of goody in the middle and some are steamed thingies with brown goody in the middle and some are.....

Anyway, Dumplings are Great!

-Zeno