Prosperity Dumpling in Chinatown (Eldridge & Hester)

      Among the hundreds of hole-in-the-walls located in and around Chinatown, Prosperity Dumpling is one of the few that's actually worth trying. The 'Open' sign is upside down and its tiny interior is often overcrowded with a line spilling onto the sidewalk, but the dumplings are far too delicious to pass up. 
 For just $1, you can get 5 huge dumplings, fried or steamed, with pork and chives or vegetable filling. As you can see in the picture, these dumplings aren't the small, overpriced ones you'll find at most restaurants. They're enormous with a juicy filling and tender shell that has just the right amount of crisp, and they're served very hot and fresh. Want some dumpling soup? You can get that too, with 8 dumplings, for only $2. And if you want to bring some home in bulk, which I did, you can get 50 frozen dumplings for only $8. To add some tanginess, you must douse the dumplings in Sriracha and their house dumpling sauce; the two condiments incorporate another layer of flavor that makes the dumplings even better than they are naked. 
     Since you probably won't be full after just one order of dumplings (though I'm biased because I'm never full), be sure to take a look at the other winners on the menu. Their fried pork buns, just $1 for 3, are fried to perfection with a great Asian barbeque flavor. Sesame pancakes are also a very popular item: for .50 cents you get a plain one, and for $1.25 it comes stuffed with beef, pork, or vegetables. The sesame bread is thick, salty, and about 3 times the size of a regular pancake, yet it is not overbearingly heavy. 
    Make it to Prosperity and you'll have a satisfying and amazing meal for $2-3. Try it, and I promise you'll be returning to Chinatown sooner than you thought.