I stopped in this joint for a sandwich while I was serving jury duty. I felt like the price was high for $11.50: turkey club and a seltzer. But it was decent.
They also had banh mi. Look at the HORROR/DEATH METAL font!
I grabbed one for the road. It was okay for the price, but I’ve had better.
SAM’S DELI
30 Mulberry St
New York, NY 10013
Tucked away in a Chinatown alley near the back of NYC’s Civic Center is a little hole-in-the-wall dumpling spot that’s simply called “Fried Dumpling.” I discovered this place while frequenting joints like Wo Hop and Peking Duck House during law school, in the very early 2000’s.
I’ve been coming here for over two decades now, and although my visits are infrequent, every time I go it hits the spot. They aren’t the best dumplings you’ll eat – the dough is a little thick, and the fried crust is inconsistent – but for $5 you get about a dozen, and they’re pretty damn tasty for the price. You can choose steamed or fried. I always go with fried, because they seem to have more flavor from the griddle/flat top. A squirt of sri racha and a shake of vinegar dumpling sauce and you’re all set.
Just a note: There’s no place to sit here. It’s really just for either standing at the small shelf along the side wall, or taking your plastic clamshell to go.
My wife and I used to buy the bags of frozen dumplings they offer, so we could cook them at home ourselves. This place is a gem.
My last visit was during a @NYCZoozClub food crawl. Check out the video below if you’re interested. And use code JOHNNYPRIME for $150 off your Zooz bike at www.zoozbikes.com.
FRIED DUMPLING
106 Mosco Street
New York, NY 10013
NOTE: THIS PLACE IS NOW CLOSED
This little corner Vietnamese bodega was a staple spot for me and my wife when we lived nearby.
They sell everything from Vietnamese variety show VCDs to music CDs, over the counter meds to dry goods and trinkets.
But they also sell banh mi sandwiches.
I grabbed two on my way home from jury duty, which brought me back into my old stomping grounds.
The classic: ham, pate and slices of pork roll with pickled veggies, cilantro, mayo and sri racha.
The spicy BBQ pork: BBQ pork with pickled veggies, cilantro, mayo, BBQ sauce and sri racha.
Both were really tasty and flavorful. The bread here is likely made early in the morning. When I arrived it was still being kept warm in a toaster oven type thing, but it may have dried out a bit in the hours it was there. The French bread was crispy and flaky, so much so that the roof of your mouth gets raped pretty hard, but the sandwich flavors make it worth the pain. These sandwiches are pretty solid for a cheap Chinatown deli shop. Stop in if you’re nearby.
SAU VOI CORP.
101 Lafayette St #3
New York, NY 10013
