"With a few locations in Manhattan and one in Williamsburg, 3 Times was started by a chef who spent time perfecting his technique at spots like Shanghai Yu Garden and Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao. This becomes abundantly clear when you taste 3 Times’ rich and salty steamed pork-and-crab soup dumplings. Their pleated tops give off a decent amount of chew, while still feeling fragile. Plus, the brothy filling stays extremely hot in the center, exploding when you bite into it (we’ve been scorched and don’t regret it). The environment here feels similar to other fast-casual restaurants, which makes it a good option for a quick lunch or solo dinner." - hannah albertine, nikko duren, carlo mantuano, molly fitzpatrick