North Dumplings Essex — Restaurant in New York

North Dumpling is a dumpling and noodle spot lost in time. the hole-in-the-wall digs is more the exception than the norm in a climate of every place being renovated and looking generically like the place before it. the 1970s shambles look is authentic to a NYC that slowly drifting away. while a messy and distressed interior might give anyone a moment of pause when at an eatery, the customers at North Dumpling don’t give it a blink of a think err thought. there’s no real seating inside and occasionally there’s on table outside. so get your food and beat it!

the no frills look translates to value pricing at ND. you can get 10 pan fried or boiled dumplings for $3. they also have noodles as well as scallion pancakes if that’s more your thing. the dumplings are okay to good, but hit the spot when you’re looking for cheap and savory in Chinatown. i got the pan-fried pork dumplings. the skins are kinda thick, the dumplings have the right searing on it, and the pork chives filling is fine/okay. there’s no real crunch to the pan- fried eats. these dumplings really suffer from the fact that they aren’t made fresh and are sitting in a heated container to be served. not being fried on the spot hurts the quality, sadly. if you get the boiled dumplings, you’ll get a “fresher” version of the dumplings as they boil them on the spot, i think. however i get it—with the amount of customers coming though this joint…frying dumplings fresh would probably be a nightmare for the staff as the line would get outta control and devolve in huger-filled chaos. all that said, the dumplings are a perfect snack when you’re looking for something quick and easy in the area. they are packed with a container of soy sauce for your dipping pleasure.

the staff is fast at slinging...

#1, 2 & 22 (and 18 if you're super hungry). I haven't deviated from this order for more than 10 years since I've been coming to this delicious hole-in-the-wall Dumpling House in the LES. When Covid hit NYC in 2020 and shut down the city the place I missed most was here. Not only is the food yummy but it's cheap too. You can waddle outta here with a full belly (mine's Enormous and hard to fill) for under $20 (my super hungry order above is just $15).

The place is very small, only having 2 little tables, and then a short countertop against the wall that people can sit at, but it's not the place to go if you wanna stay for awhile. Please eat and leave to make room for the next folks as the place is Always busy.

Whether vegetarian or omnivore you can eat to your delight here as they have both meat and meatless dumplings, pancakes and soups. My fav are the chive and pork pan fried dumplings (10 for $4) and the chives pancakes (2 for $3). The secret is to get a container to mix your soy, sriracha and vinegar together to bathe your dumplings in.

The place is cash only so don't come empty handed. There's an ATM in the store but I hate paying the hefty extra ATM fees. No bathroom either but there's a fairly clean public one across the street at Seward Park, but it's not 24/7. I'm not sure what time the bathroom facility closes, but it's nice to eat over in the park watching a good volleyball game.

I gotta say I miss the older woman who I 'thought' owned the place. She's been gone for a couple years now. I asked the 'new' person who works the register and she said she's on 'vacation'. Hope it's not the permanent kind She always knew my order as soon as I walked in. I miss that. Although NYC is full of dumpling houses this is the...

My first venture into Chinatown led me to North Dumpling, and what a discovery it was! After navigating the bustling streets, I was looking for a place with good reviews that offered a hassle-free experience, and North Dumpling delivered perfectly.

Stepping inside, I was greeted by a warm, friendly atmosphere, and the service was super efficient. On a chilly day, their hot and sour soup felt like it had magical healing properties – it was absolutely delicious and comforting. But the real stars of the show were, of course, the dumplings. I opted for the pork and chive pan-fried dumplings, and they were, in a word, phenomenal. Juicy, soft, and packed with flavor, these dumplings are truly something I think about daily. At 10 for just $3-4, they are an absolute steal and offer incredible value for the taste.

I also tried a chive pancake, which was equally "bussin'" as some would say – perfectly cooked and a great complement to the dumplings. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and was served hot and ready in minutes. While it's a small, "hole-in-the-wall" spot, the quality of the food and the friendly service more than make up for it. Many people opt for takeout, which is a great idea, especially if you want to enjoy them in a nearby park. I seriously regretted not grabbing more to take home. I will absolutely be back to North Dumpling; it's a...