Author Archives: rundlea

The Jim, South Philly

Posted on September 17, 2022 by rundlea

During the pandemic bar owners Fergie Carey and Jim McNamara, of Fergie’s Pub and The Goat, along with Tony Rim of 1225 Raw and The Foodery opened The Jim in the old JC Chinese restaurant location.  They kept the old … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Kimchi, Korean, Mandoo, Philadelphia, Pork, Potsticker, Steamed, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggie Dumplings | Leave a comment

Vanessa’s Dumpling, NYC, Pandemic Edition

Posted on September 5, 2022 by rundlea

I have reviewed Vanessa’s previously, but while I was in NYC recently I thought I would see how they were fairing in pandemic times. Thankfully the dumplings are still great but they seem to have lost their service mojo during … Continue reading →

Posted in Boiled, Chinese, Gyoza, New York City, Pan Fried, Pork, Potsticker | Leave a comment

Happy Veggie Restaurant, NYC

Posted on August 25, 2022 by rundlea

Happy Veggie Restaurant is a new to me, vegan Asian fusion restaurant in NYC’s Chinatown that opened during the pandemic. There is very little written about this restaurant on the web, but evidently they use vegan meats from Lily’s Vegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Bao, Buns, Chinese, Momo, New York City, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggie Dumplings | Leave a comment

Udon Lab, New York, NY

Posted on August 1, 2022 by rundlea

Udon Lab is an Udon bar and Izakaya that makes its udon from scratch and prepares each bowl fresh.  They offer 11 hot udon dishes and 6 cold udon dishes, a selection of izakaya appetizers, some donburi dishes, a handful … Continue reading →

Posted in Izakaya, Japanese, Takoyaki | Leave a comment

Dumpling Jjamppong, Jeong’s Kitchen (Danny’s Kitchen), HMart Philadelphia

Posted on July 9, 2022 by rundlea

I have been obsessing over Netflix’s show “A Nation of Broth” which over three episodes, with endless food-porn, documents the centrality of soups and stews in Korean cuisine. The show made me crave some Korean soup, so I went over … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Gyoza, Jjampppong, Korean, Mandoo, Noodles, Philadelphia | Leave a comment

Aged Japanese Soy Sauce Tasting

Posted on May 21, 2022 by rundlea

The pandemic continues to impede the Dumpling Hunter mission and outings to restaurants have been few and far between.  I have just started travelling to work conferences and after each of them there have been emails and phone calls from … Continue reading →

Posted in Dipping Sauce | Leave a comment

Bing Bing Dim Sum, Philadelphia PA

Posted on March 26, 2022 by rundlea

Bing Bing Dim Sum is a hipster Chinese-fusion restaurant in South Philadelphia with a limited small plate menu that does not really rise to the title of Dim Sum. The menu includes a handful of vegan items and they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Bao, Buns, Chinese, Dim Sum, Dipping Sauce, Philadelphia, Soup Dumpling, Xiao Long Bao | Leave a comment

Bai Wei, Philadelphia

Posted on February 9, 2022 by rundlea

Bai Wei (previously Sakura Mandarin) has several things going for it during COVID times, it is spacious and airy and the tables are reasonably far apart, but the staff is lackadaisical about checking vaccination status. I have been there twice … Continue reading →

Posted in Bao, Buns, Chinese, Chive, Philadelphia, Pork, Sesame Sauce, Soup Dumpling, Veggie Dumplings | Leave a comment

Heading back into the kitchen

Posted on December 23, 2021 by rundlea

With the Omicron surge upon us the Dumpling Hunter team is retreating from restaurant dining for a while and returning to home cooking. We recently tried making pork and kimchi dumplings using OmniFoods plant based ground pork. I am not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Izakaya E.A.K., Hell’s Kitchen, NY

Posted on December 20, 2021 by rundlea

Izakaya E.A.K. is part of Japan’s E.A.K. Ramen chain of restaurants (in Japan known as the Machida Shoten chain), which specializes in IEKEI ramen. According to their website they have over 400 locations in Japan and a presence in Singapore, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bao, Gyoza, Izakaya, Japanese, New York City, Pan Fried, Pork, Potsticker, Ramen Bar, Takoyaki | Leave a comment