Mimi Cheng’s

I love dumplings. It’s one of the handful of foods in this world that I love and will eat any kind at any time – and many different cuisines offer dumplings of some sort! When Mimi Cheng’s opened in the heart of my personal stomping grounds, I was excited to give them a try.

The first time I visited – back in December – I tried the regular ones and avoided the special (I don’t recall what it was). I was surprised by how delicious these were – the ingredients, higher quality than the dumplings you find in Chinatown, really shone through and proved they were worth the higher price. Oh yes, these babies run in the $8-9 for 6 range… and if you’re perfectly happy with Prosperity Dumpling, which costs $1.25 for 4 dumplings, then you may not want to cough up the dough. I assure you, however, that this babies are worth the price.

Funny enough, over the course of the months that followed, I saw people posting about special dumplings at Mimi Cheng’s. Most of them sounded interesting or delicious enough that I wanted to get over there, but just didn’t have a chance. The special changes every month, but life happens. Then… I saw the August dumpling.

Based on the burger at Emily in Brooklyn – which is a fantastic pizza place that purportedly has an amazing burger (I say purported because I haven’t been yet) – I just knew I had to try them.   In fact, I went back a week later for round 2 – to get a plate of 8 this time, and to get an inside shot. Sigh. This is what I wrote on Instagram:

BURGER + DUMPLING = MIND. BLOWN. No cute portmanteau needed! These juicy babies from Mimi Cheng’s and Emily are pure genius and you need these in your mouth NOW.
The amazing Emily burger components (dry aged beef, aged cheddar, caramelized onions and pretzels) are enclosed in Mimi’s thin, pliant and chewy dumpling skins, before being pan-fried and served alongside the incredible special sauce from Emily. I want to drink that sauce by the bucket. I want to shovel these dumplings into my mouth by the plateful.
I WANT MORE. They’re only available until the end of August, so you better get some! I know how crazy enthusiastic I sound, but I really loved these so much that I was insanely glad to be eating alone. So I didn’t have to share.

I meant every word – and I’m only posting this hurriedly now, so that I can tell all of you to go try them. They are amazing and awesome and you need them before they stop serving them in a week.

DO IT.