This is one of our favorite lunch spots in NYC. It’s simple, casual, and consistently delicious, with quick service that makes it perfect for a busy day. Everything tastes fresh and comes out hot. The soup dumplings are a must-order - juicy, flavorful, and filled with rich broth. The pork fried dumplings were crispy and so satisfying, especially with the soy chili sauce. We also loved the house special beef curry, which had tender beef in a deeply flavorful sauce, and the beef with string beans was equally delicious. Great food, fair prices, and the kind of place that keeps you coming back.
Glenn C
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March 07, 2026
Short review/recommendations: XLB/Xiao Long Bao, Hot & Spicy Wontons (mild but excellent,) Honey BBQ Spare Ribs, and Shanghai Style Fried Noodles.
Originally opened as a small restaurant in Chinatown on Lafayette, right off Canal, this spot serves Shanghainese and Cantonese food with a wide selection of dim sum. I was here with a very large group a good while back, and the friendly staff was very happy to accommodate all of us, with our group taking up two large tables and then some. They had the typical selection of beers and other soft drinks, but as per usual in less fancy Chinese spots, I stuck with tea.
We first received a lot of dim sum. The Steamed Crabmeat & Pork Xiao Long Bao, which includes 6 pieces for $11.95, was above average. The skin was thin, the inside had a good, meaty filling, and the soup was well-flavored, mostly with pork and a bit of crab. It wasn't the best XLB I've had, but it got the job done.
Also good was the Hot & Spicy Wonton, made with mixed pork and shrimp and served with hot oil and peanut sauce. These included 7 pieces, and the price at $10.75 was comparable to most Szechuan places. I wish the sauce had been more pungent, but it's a Shanghainese place, so that's a bit more typical. Again, the wrapper was thin, and the filling was generous.
For the same price and portion size, you can also order Pork Dumplings, either steamed or fried. We got both, and I, as per usual, preferred the steamed variety. These were more standard but fine, with my definite preference being the other dumplings we had.
There was also the Walnut Rock Shrimp. As we ordered 3, I presume it was around $12, but I don't remember the price, and it's not listed on the online menu or in any photos I can find on Yelp. I've never been a huge fan of this dish, as I generally only like the larger prawn variety found in many Cantonese places, where you can taste the shrimp better, but this was good. The batter was light and not overly sweet.
We also got two of the siu mei/roasted meats. I don't see the Honey BBQ Spare Ribs listed, but I presume they were around $15 or $16. This was a very tasty version, with the ribs falling off the bone yet retaining some texture. Also, compared to most Chinese-American spots, the ribs weren't overly sweet.
The BBQ Roast Pork for $15.45 was alright. I've had this dish from too many spots not to compare it to the better places around Chinatown and other neighborhoods, and this was just OK. I liked the mix of fatty and lean pieces, but the leaner ones weren't super flavorful and were also a bit dry. I wouldn't recommend this as much./
The remaining plates were larger. The Shanghai-Style Fried Noodle, available with a choice of protein, was good for $14.75. The noodles were the best part, with a good wok hei and a nice, slightly chewy texture. I probably would have preferred them with beef or pork, as there wasn't too much shrimp, but otherwise, no real complaints.
The Young Chow Fried Rice for $15.25 was, in many ways, the opposite of the noodles. By comparison, the dish had plenty of protein, but the rice itself felt a bit lacking in flavor and wok hei. It was decent
For a veggie, there were the Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves With Garlic for $22.75. The leaves were cooked nicely, and there was plenty of garlic flavor. In other words, nothing to complain about and nothing particularly notable, so it was a good standard variant. It was also the expected price for these usually expensive greens.
Last was the Sizzling Ginger Beef in Basil Sauce, consisting of beef with ginger, scallion, and onion in basil sauce for $24.75. The beef was tender, but the sauce was a bit milder than expected. It was still tasty, and the portion, as expected for the price, was generous.
This is a tasty Chinese place with a couple of excellent dishes. Bumping it up a good amount, given the neighborhood and the general quality as if this was closer to Chinatown, it would be closer to a lower 4/upper 3.
Tara
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May 23, 2026
Full disclosure, we were hungover and starving prior to this meal. That being said… Excellent Dumpling House is, well, excellent. I loved the cozy, low-key atmosphere, the service was great, and we thoroughly enjoyed our food and finished the generous portions. Exactly the kind of satisfying meal you hope for when you need a recovery lunch.
Adriana Menéndez
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May 20, 2026
Excellent place, very comfy and service was good. Food was also great, our favorite were the pork steamed dumplings.
Will definitely recommend if you’re in the city and looking for a chill place to eat.
Peter Mathys
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March 10, 2026
We came here a while ago and enjoyed it! We wanted to try a variety of dumplings. The place was quiet, the service was great, and the dumplings all tasted wonderful!
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This is one of our favorite lunch spots in NYC. It’s simple, casual, and consistently delicious, with quick service that makes it perfect for a busy day. Everything tastes fresh and comes out hot. The soup dumplings are a must-order - juicy, flavorful, and filled with rich broth. The pork fried dumplings were crispy and so satisfying, especially with the soy chili sauce. We also loved the house special beef curry, which had tender beef in a deeply flavorful sauce, and the beef with string beans was equally delicious. Great food, fair prices, and the kind of place that keeps you coming back.
Short review/recommendations: XLB/Xiao Long Bao, Hot & Spicy Wontons (mild but excellent,) Honey BBQ Spare Ribs, and Shanghai Style Fried Noodles. Originally opened as a small restaurant in Chinatown on Lafayette, right off Canal, this spot serves Shanghainese and Cantonese food with a wide selection of dim sum. I was here with a very large group a good while back, and the friendly staff was very happy to accommodate all of us, with our group taking up two large tables and then some. They had the typical selection of beers and other soft drinks, but as per usual in less fancy Chinese spots, I stuck with tea. We first received a lot of dim sum. The Steamed Crabmeat & Pork Xiao Long Bao, which includes 6 pieces for $11.95, was above average. The skin was thin, the inside had a good, meaty filling, and the soup was well-flavored, mostly with pork and a bit of crab. It wasn't the best XLB I've had, but it got the job done. Also good was the Hot & Spicy Wonton, made with mixed pork and shrimp and served with hot oil and peanut sauce. These included 7 pieces, and the price at $10.75 was comparable to most Szechuan places. I wish the sauce had been more pungent, but it's a Shanghainese place, so that's a bit more typical. Again, the wrapper was thin, and the filling was generous. For the same price and portion size, you can also order Pork Dumplings, either steamed or fried. We got both, and I, as per usual, preferred the steamed variety. These were more standard but fine, with my definite preference being the other dumplings we had. There was also the Walnut Rock Shrimp. As we ordered 3, I presume it was around $12, but I don't remember the price, and it's not listed on the online menu or in any photos I can find on Yelp. I've never been a huge fan of this dish, as I generally only like the larger prawn variety found in many Cantonese places, where you can taste the shrimp better, but this was good. The batter was light and not overly sweet. We also got two of the siu mei/roasted meats. I don't see the Honey BBQ Spare Ribs listed, but I presume they were around $15 or $16. This was a very tasty version, with the ribs falling off the bone yet retaining some texture. Also, compared to most Chinese-American spots, the ribs weren't overly sweet. The BBQ Roast Pork for $15.45 was alright. I've had this dish from too many spots not to compare it to the better places around Chinatown and other neighborhoods, and this was just OK. I liked the mix of fatty and lean pieces, but the leaner ones weren't super flavorful and were also a bit dry. I wouldn't recommend this as much./ The remaining plates were larger. The Shanghai-Style Fried Noodle, available with a choice of protein, was good for $14.75. The noodles were the best part, with a good wok hei and a nice, slightly chewy texture. I probably would have preferred them with beef or pork, as there wasn't too much shrimp, but otherwise, no real complaints. The Young Chow Fried Rice for $15.25 was, in many ways, the opposite of the noodles. By comparison, the dish had plenty of protein, but the rice itself felt a bit lacking in flavor and wok hei. It was decent For a veggie, there were the Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves With Garlic for $22.75. The leaves were cooked nicely, and there was plenty of garlic flavor. In other words, nothing to complain about and nothing particularly notable, so it was a good standard variant. It was also the expected price for these usually expensive greens. Last was the Sizzling Ginger Beef in Basil Sauce, consisting of beef with ginger, scallion, and onion in basil sauce for $24.75. The beef was tender, but the sauce was a bit milder than expected. It was still tasty, and the portion, as expected for the price, was generous. This is a tasty Chinese place with a couple of excellent dishes. Bumping it up a good amount, given the neighborhood and the general quality as if this was closer to Chinatown, it would be closer to a lower 4/upper 3.
Full disclosure, we were hungover and starving prior to this meal. That being said… Excellent Dumpling House is, well, excellent. I loved the cozy, low-key atmosphere, the service was great, and we thoroughly enjoyed our food and finished the generous portions. Exactly the kind of satisfying meal you hope for when you need a recovery lunch.
Excellent place, very comfy and service was good. Food was also great, our favorite were the pork steamed dumplings. Will definitely recommend if you’re in the city and looking for a chill place to eat.
We came here a while ago and enjoyed it! We wanted to try a variety of dumplings. The place was quiet, the service was great, and the dumplings all tasted wonderful!