Kai Feng Fu Dumpling House

If you have an extra $2.50 lying around, bring it to Kai Feng Fu Dumpling House in Sunset Park. For that amount, you'll get six fried pork and chive dumplings, crisped on the bottom, with thick, glossy skin. This place also serves steamed dumplings—which are fine, but considerably doughier and less compelling than the fried ones—as well as a bunch of soups, some incredibly meaty pork buns, and thick triangles of sesame pancake that make for a nice little snack. Just be aware that this place is cash-only, and there are only a few tables inside.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Kate Previte

Pork & Chive Dumplings

The main event. These dumplings are juicy, steaming hot, and crisped on one side. Yes, the skin is fairly thick and doughy, but there's mores than enough ground pork and coarsely chopped chive inside to provide a balanced bite.