When I was focused on my best dumplings in New York search, I was mostly concentrating in the multiple Chinatowns in New York City. Of course, there were a few spots scattered around the city that I examined, but the hub of it was around Canal Street, Flushing, Sunset Park, or Elmhurst (yes, I know there are now more Chinatowns than that).
I hadn’t considered that I might find some of the city’s best dumplings in an old historic building in the West Village.
When Lin & Daughters opened recently, the menu really intrigued me. The dishes were mostly named for family members of the owner, signifying her brother, aunt, or grandmother’s favorite recipes.
The dumplings at the top of menu belong to “Baba Lin” who I believe is the owner’s father. And I really want to thank him because these are among the best dumplings I’ve ever tasted.
I was not anticipating such a perfect plate of dumplings. The translucent skins previewed a juicy meaty filling of pork and chives. Hints of flour were revealed when biting into the slippery skins. You could tell right away that these were homemade recently with the utmost precision.
The pork inside was wonderfully juicy with a touch of ginger. The special dumpling sauce required just a dab so you could appreciate the mastery of these perfect dumplings.
Thin skins, juicy tasty fillings, and an overwhelming sense of the love the family puts into it all contribute to the joy of these dumplings. My search will continue (in many areas of the city), but I have certainly come close to finding the perfect dumpling and it’s not where you may have expected it. Price: $10.99
Does Line & Daughters have the best dumplings in NY? Shocking how good these are – I am not over-reacting when I give them a perfect 10 out of 10.
| LIN & DAUGHTERS |
| 181 West 4th Street (between Jones and Barrow Streets), West Village (917) 645-0229 |
| linanddaughters.com |
