88 Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles

"Sometimes we have to stand up and apologize. Admit that we were wrong and try and make amends. Sometimes, we have to look in the mirror and then back out at all of you and just say “our bad.” For years, we’ve been sending people lists of our favorite dumplings in New York – leading them to places like Prosperity Dumpling (RIP), Nan Xiang, White Bear, and Joe’s Shanghai. But we have to admit we f*cked up. Leaving Lam Zhou Hand Pulled Noodles off that list for so many years, depriving our dumpling-seeking friends of what are quite possibly Chinatown’s best dumplings – we are riddled with guilt. We had reasons. We already had a couple Chinatown go-tos, and the hand pulled noodles – not the dumplings – were the reason we’d always come here. Dumplings don’t appear on the menu until #17 (and it only goes up to 21). But those are just excuses. A recent trip back assured us the dumplings at Lam Zhou are f*cking royalty and should be celebrated as such. And at $2 for 6, $3 for 10, they might be the best value you can get in a neighborhood packed with great value. The fact that the hand pulled noodles are also incredible is a cherry on top, not a caveat. We can’t change the past. But if we try, we can help fix the future. Or something. Just eat here, eat here now, and accept our sincerest apologies. Food Rundown Boiled Dumplings An order of boiled is served up on a tin tray, in a thin layer of water. No, it’s not the most appealing, but trust us when we say that it makes no difference in the end. Filled with delicious meat and chive, these have a little soupiness to them that are an absolute game changer. A must order, even if you also get fried. Fried Dumplings Like every good fried dumpling, these aren’t deep fried but lightly coated in oil for just enough crunch. They’re barely greasy and you can throw down 10, no problem. Beef Soup With Noodles The soups here range from $5.50-$6.50 and each is a big ass bowl with a wholelottanoodle (trademark). Pretty perfect when the temperature starts to drop. The meat is tender and the broth is solid, but the noodles are the star. Perfectly chewy without being overcooked in the slightest. A+ stuff. Noodles With Pork Same noodles but instead of a broth, these are served in a light sauce, and topped with bok choy and ground pork. Another can’t miss." - Ben Kopelman