SECRET ASIAN MAN (Fried Dumpling)

A few months ago I wrote about what I thought was Fried Dumplings on Allen Street. Well, that joint was at one time called Fried Dumplings, still bears the sign, and was the original of a two storefront business. That location closed last year and re-opened shortly before my visit displaying the subtitle, “Inexpensive Delicacies Company.”

It’s unclear whether the Allen Street location is still attached to the slightly more famous Fried Dumpling, the literal hole in the wall on Mosco Street. And while I’ve been spending much time down in Chinatown, I still have not picked up more than a few words of Mandarin (or Cantonese) to fully investigate this matter. So I decided to assume the two shops are no longer related and figured I owed it to all of my readers to do a full taste of the more popular and aptly named Fried Dumpling.

I was brought here a few months back by the NYC Food Guy when we were filming my ice cream episode. I didn’t have the dumpling credentials then that I do now so aside from being amazed at the now predictable cheap price of $1 for a plate of dumplings, I don’t have much else to say about that first experience.

Everything you may have read about this place is true. The shop is beyond tiny with maybe five stools for some lucky customers. The lady behind the counter is rude, gruff, and could care less if you want to try her dumplings or not. And the only options here are fried dumplings, fried buns, or soup – it also may as well be fried.

As I crowded around the sad well-suited businessmen on lunch break from jury duty (there were a handful actually), the local school kids, and some neighborhood regulars, I did my usual picture taking. I try to snap as much as possible just so I have enough images to fill in these reviews. I guess one of the regular customers found my picture taking a bit disconcerting. He asked if I was from the Health Department (the establishment had already posted a “B” grade) and when I told him I was writing a blog, he looked at me disapprovingly and warned “You shouldn’t do that around here.”

I didn’t want to get on the bad side of the locals, so I was a little more discreet with my image snapping as I began to dig into my fried dumplings. The potstickers looked almost caramelized with a few very crispy nuggets hugging the skin. They added a nice crunchy exterior to the slightly sticky dumplings without adding a greasy element.

Inside, the pork mixture was moist and the fresh scallions added a nice firm contrast. It exceeds most expectations as to what may lurk inside these cheap dumplings. The potsticker had a very slight vanilla taste (perhaps from the nutty oil?) that was surprising and pleasant.

So despite the crowded and unattractive digs, the aggressively suspicious neighbors, and the cheap as dirt food, the dumplings at Fried Dumpling are worth the dollar. They’re fast, tasty, and advertised appropriately. Just don’t try to speak English or snap photos and you’ll be fine.

Does Fried Dumpling have the best dumplings in NY? My illicit photos prove that they have a unique flavor, crunchy texture, and appropriate pricing which comes out to about an 8 out of 10.