Joy Godfrey
Veggie fried dumplings
>> READ MORE: 2019-2020 Restaurant Guide >>
If there was one word Fen Weng, owner and chef of Dumpling Tea & Dim Sum, could say to you about her little restaurant, tucked in a back corner of the Plaza Galeria, it would be "homemade." Weng, a native of Dalian, China, has made an art of homemade Chinese comfort foods—from potstickers to dumplings, noodles to soup buns. Her expertise, as well as that of her staff, is on full display at the entry of this small space (which, coincidentally, expanded within its first two months of business). Place an order and watch as the dough is hand-rolled, filled and formed just minutes before the finished product appears on a plate before you. Menu choices are simple, basically selecting between pork, shrimp, or vegetarian, steamed or fried (ranging from $7.99 to $9.99). You can't go wrong with any of the dumplings or soup buns; all come expertly cooked, filled with crunchy, lovingly seasoned chunks of pork and/or veggies. The noodles are also homemade and the spicy dan dan variety ($7.99) are a favorite, with noodles, salty pork and crisp veggies swimming in generous sauce ("Sauce, not soup!" Weng will tell you). Don't be shy about over-ordering. You won't be the only one.
66 E San Francisco St. #10, 646-945-5000
Lunch and dinner daily
