Some women seek to be wined, dined and ordered for in fancy-pants restaurants with white tablecloths. I am not one of these women. I am perfectly content eating cheap dumplings out of a styrofoam countainer on a park bench together. A date like this can only be made more perfect if followed by a walk across the Manhattan bridge. What’s more romantic than that?
Last week, I met up with Rene in Chinatown after work and he took me to Prosperity Dumpling - a literal hole-in-the-wall on Eldridge Street. There’s about five square feet of space to stand in while you wait for your order and a slightly bigger kitchen area towards the back. In the kitchen stand several people, a few making fresh dumplings by hand, a few handling the stove and one on the cash register. They don’t wait until someone orders the dumplings to put them into the frying pan - they just fry them as soon as they’re made, because the fact that someone will come in and order them in a minute is a sure thing. The pork and chive dumplings cost $1 for five pieces, and no, you are not misreading, they are actually this cheap. The filling is juicy, flavorful and fresh, and the wrapper is delicate and melts in your mouth. Since spring has finally sprung, the ideal place to eat them is at the park a block away. Grab yourself a Heineken in a brown paper bag and then you’re really in business.
Another popular item at Prosperity is the sesame pancake, which, as you might’ve guessed, also costs just $1. The pancake is warm and crispy; the dough has a wonderful aroma and yeasty chewiness. It is the perfect street snack.
NY-ers, what is your fave dumpling place?
♥ dumplings! those look sooooo good!
Omg I love that place too! I’ve only been once unfortunately but I dragged my friend who was visiting and we were pretty pleased, even eating standing up on the sidewalk across the street. I wrote about it too - http://eyechow.com/2012/02/09/prosperity-dumpling-new-york/
The only other place that’s just as cheap and pretty good (that I know of, at least) is Vanessa’s Dumplings.
I love your idea to BYOB in a paper bag- will take note for next time.
ooo i’ll have to check that palce out when i’m in the city. sounds like a real winner. yum! I’ll take $5 worth
I ate there!! Our tour guide brought us there in China Town… And well, I didn’t eat the dumpling (i’m a vegetarian), but my boyfriend and entire group did. Ahh… NYC. I miss you…
-JulieC
Cool! I didn’t think it’d be the type of place to stop on during a tour. That’s awesome
I booked a free tour, (they work off tips), and the guide was awesome. This was our last stop. I would highly recommend it to anybody! There were even a few New Yorkers on the tour. (www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours)
Sounds great