CHINESE DUMPLINGS in New York: Zhu Ji Dumpling Stall

Zhu Ji Dumpling Stall has been hiding in Flushing for a long time, yet somehow I missed it until now.

This is literally a stall just off Main Street where those in the know stop for some cheap and juicy dumplings. The set-up reminds me a bit of Fried Dumpling down an alley in Chinatown, which is eye-opening for tourists, but is old news for local foodies.

Same holds true here, although the people operating the business seem to have a lot more patience than the infamous dumpling lady of Mosco Street.

The menu is also a lot larger (mostly dumplings, buns, and rolls) and so it was a bit of a hat trick attempting to order the “right” thing.

The fried dumplings for $4 (for 8) seemed about right. Sure enough, they came out moments later with a glistening wrapper and a filling of the classic pork and chives.

To get any of the sauce, I had to squeeze my way inside the crowded area, which was a lot less comfortable than ordering from the street window.

While they were all stuck together and not so easy to eat, these were some juicy dumplings that had a nice crisped crust and a hint of sweetness. They were, as expected, a bit on the greasy side, however that didn’t stop me. I also thought the skins could have been a bit thinner, but these were still a great deal.

Although I haven’t been to Flushing in a while, I thought I knew the old-school dumpling scene here. Turns out there is a lot more to learn.