Vanessa's Dumpling House — Restaurant in New York

Vanessa’s Dumplings is very much a part of the food landscape in NYC known for its dumplings, sesame pancakes, noodles, and low prices. the hole-in-the-wall eatery got renovated and looks a bit more clean and modern. this is a no-frills eatery: order at the register for dine-in or takeout and pay, stakeout one of the few tables inside if you’re staying, and wait for your food ticket number to be called.

there are always seems to be a general sense of confusion at Vanessa’s amongst the staff as to what order is up or amongst new customers who don’t know how things work at the Chinatown eatery. and that is why i only do takeout here and Kew my orders super simple. i wish Vanessa’s would add a little bit of order to the general chaos bc at times it can be a tad hectic.

last time i was here, i got the sesame pancake sandwich filled with Peking duck ($6.50). the pancake is more of a fried puffy bread and it was glorious. it’s soft, slightly crispy, oily, and full of flavor. this time around i found the the duck filling way way too salty (i have had it before and it’s been fine) and there’s was not much duck filling in the sandwich, itself. next time, I’ll plain pancake sandwich or just get a veggie filling. between the carb calories and it being fried—it’s filling all by itself. definitely a worthwhile food stop if you’re patient bc when the food hits…it hits nicely. but when it misses…big whiff.

the staff seem stressed but work fast. the ordering and pickup system needs work bc it is way too confusing and chaotic when the restaurant is packed. however you can call in your orders for pickup now, so there has...

A Taste of Authenticity in Chinatown

I recently had the pleasure of trying out "Venssas Dumpling House" on Eldrigestreet in the heart of Chinatown. Let me tell you, it's as close to an authentic Chinese experience as you can get. Now, that might be a hit or miss for some, but if you're all about the real deal, this is your spot.

The ambiance, I'll admit, isn't exactly Instagram-worthy – it's a bit rough around the edges, and cleanliness is a work in progress. However, when you're here, you're not here for the decor; you're here for the dumplings. And oh, did they deliver! These dumplings were a symphony of flavors that left my taste buds dancing.

What's even better is that it won't burn a hole in your pocket. The price-to-quality ratio is spot on, making it accessible for everyone. Just a little heads up, it's strictly self-service at the counter, and they only accept cash. So, don't forget to hit up the ATM before satisfying your dumpling cravings.

"Venssas Dumpling House" in Chinatown offers an authentic Chinese experience that's not for the decor-conscious, but it's a hidden gem for dumpling lovers. These delicious bites are budget-friendly, and the only catch is they take cash only. So, if you're in the mood for some tasty, no-frills dumplings, give this...

This was my second time at Vanessa's Dumplings, after an amazing experience a year ago. I still have dreams about their wontons with spicy sauce.

This time I went with a large group as part of a Chinatown food tour. Our plan was to order a small amount of food at each restaurant and then hit multiple restaurants. At Vanessa's, we ordered the fried pork buns (x2), pork and cabbage dumplings, and spicy wontons. All this was only $25 - but it wasn't that much food. Keep in mind they only take cash, so plan accordingly. They do have an ATM at the front if you really need, but there'll definitely be a hefty fee.

The fried pork buns were ok, they did taste like they had been fried before and just kept heated until we ordered it. They weren't as juicy as I expected either. But the dumplings and wontons were amazing as I remembered. If I could have, I would've ordered it just for myself. I definitely recommend the shrimp and pork wontons with spicy chili oil.

Overall I still love this place but there may be better dumpling houses in NYC Chinatown to explore. The price is very reasonable and the portion is good. The space is big enough for a large group to sit, and there are a lot of...