Mark W.
Yelp
Welcome to New York City, it's time to get into some great eating!
So on tap for dinner this time around came a rather unexpected find on my Yelp map! So last time, I was able to make a reservation to another restaurant in Brooklyn before going to dance. This time however, I was checking into my hotel at 7:30, so I needed something a bit quicker but still exceptional dining as I would only have two hours to even get ready to go to the Avant Gardner. Enter Nan Xiang Express, a soup dumpling joint in Williamsburg that apparently has a menu item that is Michelin-worthy. Yep! I had actually read somewhere that the Pork Soup Dumplings are so good that they are worthy of a Michelin star! Well then, I had to try them out, and I did that in the simplest way possible. By ordering the combo that comes along with it!
So in addition to the dumplings, two veggie spring rolls and a soy milk (hot or iced) comes along in the meal. I opted take-out so I could just eat at the Pod (the hotel I was staying at this time around). I chose the cold soy milk because I felt like for soy milk cold would be a better fit. Before I got my order and left though, I decided to take pictures of the interior because it was quite fascinating for how small this place was. If you choose to stay in, you can find a tutorial on the wall on how to eat soup dumplings. Of course, I had to just figure it out on my own (more on that in a bit). They do have a backroom you can take your food to if you wanna eat there, and the garden theme is next level stuff.
Okay, so back at the Pod, it's time to eat! I'm gonna start by saying that the soy milk was actually really good to have, and soy milk isn't quite what my first choice of milk would be if we're being honest. It helps cool off some of the spicier dipping sauces you are given like the chili oil. And it was tasty. The spring rolls were another hit, and the sauce it came with brought it out even more. The pastry was crispy and delightful. A win in every sense of the word.
Now we move on to the dumplings, and for these, you're given a spoon to hold your dumpling in and a pair of chopsticks. I was a total pro at eating with chopsticks, and by total pro, I mean that I completely fail at it. If the chopstick police saw me eating my dumplings the way I did, I would be locked up with the key thrown away and eaten by a tiger. But boy oh boy was it worth it! You get soy sauce and the chili oil to dump the dumplings into, and the soup inside is really good. An herbal symphony dancing in your taste buds like it's the last night of its life! The pork was succulent, and the way it was steamed when it was made makes the dish a heaven on earth! And yeah, these dumplings made me thankful my hotel had a lounge area because eating them in my booked room would have gone terribly!
Seriously, if are in Williamsburg and want some Dim Sum, give this place a try! It rules!