dumplings. i could talk about this for a very long time. i have a few go-to places that i love, each for different reasons:

for a walk-up window, i love the Good Dumpling House on Grand and Elizabeth. i get the pan-fried pork buns (not the pork dumplings and not a roast pork bun). these come 3-4, depending on their mood, for $1. they are a little crispy on the bottom, just enough dough and a delicious pork filling. i usually eat one serving standing on the street and go back for seconds. they also have frozen bags of dumplings to take home, but i prefer…

for frozen bags of dumplings to take home, i love the Dumpling House on Eldridge and Broome, which has apparently been renamed Vanessa’s Dumplings. my friend Riki got me two bags as a gift – one of pork and chive and one of pork and cabbage. i surprisingly liked the pork and cabbage the best. at home, i boil them for about 8 minutes and serve with a soy and rice wine vinegar sauce. note: i don’t like their pork buns as much as Good Dumpling House and i do not like Vanessa’s Dumplings on 14th street.

for sit down, i love the Golden Unicorn on East Broadway and Catherine for weekend dim sum brunch. this has been a chinatown staple for years. their dim sum is super cheap and their dumplings are delicious.

places on my list to try: New Green Bo in china town and Eton in Carroll Gardens.