LIVE LONG AND… (Prosperity Dumpling)

SADLY, PROSPERITY DUMPLING IS NOW CLOSED.

My first dumpling venture taught me quite a few things. It taught me that this is going to be much cheaper than any of my previous searches. Even ice cream was running me close to $5 a cone. I think I’ll leave most of the dumpling shops with a loss of no more than a few bucks. Seriously.

It taught me that I’m going to have to try both options – boiled (or steamed) and fried – to get the entire experience. I usually choose steamed in the interest of health, but that’s not really fair to the full flavor of the dumplings. And since there’s not as much full on fat here as in pizza, pastrami, or ice cream, I think I can handle a little grease.

And it taught me that it will be a challenge to move around many of these restaurants. For the most part, they’re more than tiny (or less than tiny?). I didn’t know where to put my bag, how to take pictures, or how to comfortably sit on the stool. I might need to let go of any thought of comfort.

But there is something special about eating with strangers in such close quarters. Only in New York would people know how to cram into a literal hole in the wall, get their lunch, slurp it down, and get out of there without getting hurt. I did bump into a few people while I was packed inside Prosperity Dumpling. Nobody got hurt and everybody was understanding. And while most people eat their dumplings and mind their own business, the guy sitting next to me asked me about cameras, which I admitted I knew nothing about (have you seen my overexposed pictures?) And all these experiences for just a dollar!

Prosperity is probably the most popular of the dollar dumpling shops in Chinatown (there’s also a location in Sunset Park). You get five fried dumplings for a dollar. One single dollar! That’s crazy! They’re pretty filling, but if you’re still hungry you can always get 10 boiled dumplings for two dollars. That’s 15 dumplings for $3!!! I’m not even going to have to collect these receipts for tax purposes.

Since it was in my budget, I ordered both boiled and fried dumplings. The boiled took about ten minutes because they were made fresh, but I was able to start with the fried ones.

The fried dumplings had a very crispy skin that gave way to quite a bit of steam which eventually gave way to the ground pork and chive mixture. The exterior had an awesome crunch and flavor without being greasy. I used the soy vinegar and sriracha sauce from the communal bottle to drown my dumplings. The soy gave it a nice sharp balance and the sriracha heated things up just a bit.

The boiled versions shared the same meaty, flavorful pork and chive mixture. It was a bit generic and tasted like all the other dumpling fillers I’ve had before but there was a generous portion of it and it was fresh and tender. When I burst open this wrapper, the hot juices exploded everywhere. I was worried my camera friend was going to turn against me.

And the crunch of the scallions stood out more with the boiled ones. Although, of course, they needed more sauce to give them some flavor. But the wrapper was soft and tender and you could really taste the freshness and homemade quality of the dumpling itself.

Still, I was a bit partial to the crunchy fried versions. I couldn’t get over the perfect light crispy texture. And at 20 cents each, I was tempted to go crazy and just keep ordering. That’s another thing I’m going to have to learn on this dumpling search – moderation.

Does Prosperity Dumpling have the best dumplings in NY? It’s too early to call, but both options are fresh, tender and juicy. I especially love the fried dumplings that are as affordable as quality food gets and so they get an 8 out of 10.