"A Michelin-starred transplant from California, Luscious Dumplings brings—you guessed it—lots of dumplings, along with meat-packed noodle soups and vegetable-forward snacks to Chinatown. The clean, modern space is comfortable for groups of all sizes, and at lunchtime it’s busy with multi-gen families and co-workers. Unfortunately, we think they left their seasonings in Anaheim: both the steamed soup dumplings and their pan-fried siblings lack any flavor and are light on filling. Steer clear of the bok choy and broccoli sides, which are similarly bland and boring. The highlights here are the noodle soups—the one with tender angus beef is our favorite, and the broth is savory and comforting—and the flawless scallion pancakes. It’s serviceable for a quick, noodle-y lunch, but when the craving for soup dumplings hits, head to Dim Sum Garden instead." - Alison B. Kessler
