Vanessa's Dumpling House

Restaurant · Lower East Side

Vanessa's Dumpling House

Restaurant · Lower East Side

5

118A Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

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Vanessa's Dumpling House by Robert Sietsema/Eater NY
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Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null
Vanessa's Dumpling House by null

Highlights

Vanessa's Dumpling House is a bustling Chinatown gem, serving up thick-skinned dumplings and sizzling sesame pancakes in a casual, no-frills atmosphere.  

Featured in Eater
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118A Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002 Get directions

vanessas.com

$10–20 · Menu

Reserve

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118A Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002 Get directions

+1 212 625 8008
vanessas.com

$10–20 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jun 22, 2025

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@onthegrid

"Morphing from a hole in the wall to a sit down restaurant over the last decade, these dumpling and $1 scallion pancakes came a long way." - My Orange Box

On the Grid : Vanessa’s Dumplings House
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@eater

"Founded in 1999 and now with several branches, Vanessa’s rode the wave of cheap dumpling popularity to become a student favorite, and indeed the premises feel like a dorm lunchroom. The dumplings — shaped like a Volkswagen bug — are thick skinned, and rather uniform in shape, lacking twists and frills, and very chivey: Eight for $5.50." - Robert Sietsema

Manhattan’s Chinatown Dumplings, Ranked - Eater NY
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@eater

"Chinatown is a perpetual destination for NYU students, either via the subway or a not-far walk. They find the food inexpensive and delicious, and few places are as popular as Vanessa’s, a dumpling house with seating and self-service founded in 1999. Order at the counter and wait for your order to be called. The specialty is pot-stickers, fried with a cornucopia of meat and vegetable stuffings." - Robert Sietsema

Where to Eat Around NYU - Eater NY
View Postcard for Vanessa's Dumpling House
@onthegrid

"Vanessa’s Dumplings House, Chinatown by My Orange Box. Morphing from a hole in the wall to a sit down restaurant over the last decade, these dumpling and $1 scallion pancakes came a long way."

New York City
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@eater

"At the dollar dumpling storefronts like Fried Dumpling, Dumpling House, and Tasty Dumpling, big round loaves were cut into wedges, split horizontally, and stuffed with a single slice of dried aromatic beef and a heap of pickled vegetables, and sometimes sprinkled with chopped scallions." - Robert Sietsema

Vanessa’s Dumpling Serves a Simple Yet Filling Egg Shaobing Sandwich - Eater NY
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Kayla Poore

Google
Quick affordable work lunch. I was impressed with how good the pork buns and dumplings were. We will definitely be back and they have milk teas too. I’ll have to check those out on my next visit. This place was super busy but worth the wait.

Chael MacKinnon

Google
Loveeddd it here. The prices are actually unreal, like there isn’t anywhere in the LES where you can get this much good food for these prices. We got shrimp dumplings, pork and chive dumplings, and a veggie pancake sandwich and one duck pancake sandwich. And a taro bubble tea, for good measure. Loved it all and will obviiii be back.

Miriam Noyola

Google
Vanessa's Dumpling House is a restaurant located at 118A Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002 (212) 625-8008. I placed a phone order, and they were friendly and helpful. It was quick placing the order and making the payment. The delivery was on time and the driver was quite friendly although he got lost but still it arrived as promised. The selection that was made was delicious and the prices are incredibly low. The dumplings are stuffed, and all the food smelled delicious.

Aimee Duffy

Google
Really authentic spot for great cheap dumplings. Pork & chive are my favorites and make sure to get the spicy sauce. Buns look great too.

Itchy Feet Foodies

Google
Great fried dumplings, we had the beef and chicken and both were tasty. Cool old school atmosphere inside and out

Juan Lima

Google
Order their fried pork and chive dumplings and their fried pork buns to go. The dumpling skin was barely cooked with a slight golden color, while the buns were fried more evenly, and the filling tasted better.

Nikola Janjić

Google
Amazing and iconic place for homemade dumplings in Big Apple. They serve homemade dumplings since 1999. Be prepared for self-service. They are super busy in the evening and during lunchbreaks. My favourite meal is a Peking duck sandwich with scallion & cucumber relish. We asked and paid for steamed dumplings, they gave us fried. But the flavor was there, no regrets. The venue (toilet, tables and chairs) could be more clean, it's a kind of shabby, but it is what it is. Even Vanessa approached to us and introduced herself, that was very kind from her. If you are in this area, Vanessa's Duplings is a must! Very afordable prices, their famous Peking duck pancake sandwich is only $7. This location is in Eldridge St, in Lower East Manhattan, close to MTA lines F, B and D. Tenement Museum is a few steps from there, my strong recommendation.

fatih senel

Google
Menu is limited. Hot sour soup, pan fried chicken dumplings were the best part. Beef noodles could have been better. Tasted like Maruchan Ramen powdered. Now, the reason for the lower stars was that the place was dirty. Tables were nasty and black wine we used wipes to clean them. All the vents and all In The ceiling was grime filled and the dust was about to fall into wonton soups Aside from the nastiness, the food was good. We will come again.

Mike R.

Yelp
Vanessa's Dumpling House is more a Lower East Side "affordable" eat vs. absolute "cheap eats" given the many cheaper eats available in Chinatown. Nevertheless, there is much to enjoy here and it's truly fair priced! Despite its namesake as a dumpling house, I found the star items (and my reco) two non-dumplings dishes: the Peking Duck Sesame Pancake Sandwich and Cold Noodles with Sesame and Peanut Sauces. If I had only the sandwich and cold noodles, it's nice likely that I'd give Vanessa's 5 stars. While I had been expecting the sesame pancake sandwich to be more like a Jian Bing, it wasn't like that at all. The "pancake" was more a delicious, fresh sesame encrusted flat bread, enveloping the extremely moist duck and accompanying filling made this sandwich something I'll return there for! Flavorful and filling, it was excellent! The large size portion of cold noodles were thick and tender. While the sauces, etc., were like what I've had elsewhere, the awesome noodles really set it apart! My dumpling choice was the assorted 8 boiled dumplings: 2 pork, 2 chicken, 2 shrimp, and 2 veg. While colorful, the dumplings needed a lot more than the soy vinegar on the table to give any memorable flavor. They also provide their chili pepper hot sauce on the table or you can opt for an additional charge for chili oil, scallion, garlic and cilantro. That being said, on any future visits I'd try something different or even order a second sandwich before ordering dumplings. Again, while some customers order to go, there have tables to enjoy your food. (Orders are served over the counter thru openings in the sneeze shields, not to the table.) Keep in mind, the team at Vanessa's may take significantly longer than what they promise. In my case, despite ordering off their digital kiosk with and a 15 minute ETA on the receipt, it took over 30 minutes for these 3 dishes - and there were people who came in after me who, despite having some small wait, had their dishes way before me. So, not so sure Vanessa's is optimal if you're tight on time. Regardless, certainly I'll be back to Vanessa's for another superb Peking Duck Sesame Pancake Sandwich! And possibly those cold noodles too!

F S.

Yelp
Menu is limited. Hot sour soup, pan fried chicken dumplings were the best part. Beef noodles could have been better. Tasted like Maruchan Ramen powdered. Now, the reason for the lower stars was that the place was dirty. Tables were nasty and black wine we used wipes to clean them. All the vents and all In The ceiling was grime filled and the dust was about to fall into wonton soups Aside from the nastiness, the food was good. We will come again.

Julia M.

Yelp
Vanessa's will always be a classic spot for me - love the chili oil and the fried dumplings hit the spot. Always bring cash, or there's an atm inside. Staff are quick and efficient! There's a decent amount of seating as well.

Kitty S.

Yelp
This was a bustling dumpling place with good variety and family style seating! Food was out fast and was perfectly prepared - good prices and incredibly filling. Any questions were quickly answered. Excellent dumpling spot!

Nate L.

Yelp
The last spot on my self guided dumpling tour (list of dumpling spots in my profile) and it was a bit underwhelming. Definitely try to say you have been but I wouldn't set high expectations. I think Vanessa's is considered a staple in Chinatown as it is an OG spot. I personally know them for their pancakes but this was a dumpling tour so I had to stick with dumplings. This comes in 5th out of the 6 spots. I ordered 30 dumplings for my group and they were freshly made. It was hot, had a nice consistent crisp and looked great. Dumplings were very juicy and amazing, until you finished chewing. I had a few dumplings and couldn't get rid of a very gamey aftertaste. This is usually symbolic of meat that has been sitting in the freezer for a while... definitely what I remember eating as a child but maybe I just went on a bad day? With that being said, the dumplings themselves were off putting from the aftertaste. If this is how it consistently tastes, I think stronger spices (specifically ginger) would help get rid of the gamey taste.

Farrah B.

Yelp
Despite getting a little more expensive over the years, still, Vanessa's will always be my favorite place for dumplings. The staff is friendly and kind. The quality is consistent as they've made upgrades and changes without sacrificing the way that they do business. I always get veggie dumplings with a sesame pancake. The dumplings are always amazing, frozen, or fresh. Make sure you come check them out!

Brigette K.

Yelp
We had been wanting dumplings and had seen this was good reviews so we came here to get food to go. We shared the pork buns and the pork and chive fried dumpling, and added the spicy sauce. The pork and chive dumplings were excellent and I would get them again. The pork bun was tasteless and I would skip. Fast service and cheap.

Mantis T.

Yelp
Incredible food. Hard to find seating inside it's a small space, but it's worth the wait. The spicy beef are some of the best dumplings I've ever had. Very affordable too!

Michelle F.

Yelp
Ordered delivery from Vanessa's Dumplings! The price is cheap but there are cheaper better dumpling spots in the area in my opinion! The cabbage and pork fried dumplings were decent and the sesame pancake with Peking Duck as a little too chewy. It might've just been because it was delivery so it wasn't as fresh when I got it so I would need to try in person to give a fair rating imo!

Betty L.

Yelp
I remember this spot to be one of the top dumpling places in Chinatown pre-covid so I decided to go back and was extremely disappointed. I got #1 the chive and pork pot stickers. The order was ready 20 seconds after I paid. The dumpling skin was hard. It was extremely disappointing and I ended up throwing away the rest.

Brandon D.

Yelp
This place never disappoints me. Food is filling. Food is cheap (a Godsend for peasant's like me today) Food is *flavorful* and absolutely authentic as it can get. I recommend any pork dumpling and pancake. Be daring and try one you wouldn't usually, I promise you that you'd at least like the experience. Service is orderly and pretty fast even when it gets busy (and it can, consistently). Ambiance feels, at its most busy, like an eat and go to make space for the next people, but you never feel rushed.

Lana S.

Yelp
Last time I went here was years ago! I'm back again and the food is still pretty solid. The prices have gone up slightly but I'm appreciative that they accept cards now in addition to cash. Always friendly service when we go and I see they updated their labels to accommodate more people. Nothing beats Vanessa's dumplings in Chinatown! It just hits the spot every time :)

Anthony P.

Yelp
Came here as part of a food crawl. I haven't had the pleasure of trying this place for a really long time, and have heard this place makes lists of best dumplings regularly. I think the dumplings were solid. i wouldn't call them the best in Chinatown, but that's a hard competition to beat. I think notably, the pork dumplings were actually ordinary but authentic. They were tasty but nothing that I need to come back for. BASIL AND CHICKEN DUMPLINGS** Now this ended up being the star of the show. The basil was so fragrant and really had such a pleasant flavor to complement the chicken. This isn't a filling you can find often in my experience, and we really enjoyed this. However, some people did think that the pork was still their favorite. I'll note that out of the group, I was the only one who grew up eating dumplings at home though.

Cole D.

Yelp
Good decent place. Inexpensive. Cash only. The fried dumplings weren't as good as the boiled. Tables were pretty dirty to eat on. Good hot sauce and soy sauce on tables to use.

Oscar L.

Yelp
Dumplings at Vanessa's are not bad, but the skin is definitely thicker than other dumpling places. Service is very quick if fried, but boiled dumplings take much longer. Inside, you seat yourself and it can be hit or miss depending on how busy it gets. It's generally a louder environment with a quickly eat-and-go vibe.

Karan L.

Yelp
Absolutely love this place, one of my favorite go-to quick eats in chinatown, in an out within 10 minutes with a full meal in under 10 dollars. Will keep coming back! The restaurant is small and quite compact, and really fits the dollar dumpling spot in chinatown vibe that many other restaurants in chinatown seem to have. However, there is more seating here that I would find at a few other places, which is lovely. However, sometimes there can be quite a crowd (tourist love this place for some reason every time I visit there is always a tourist group visiting), and no places to sit (it can also get quite crammed). In terms of the food, man I am addicted to the sesame pancake sandwich sandwiches. The roasted duck, the vegetable, and the pork sandwich are all top tier, soft, fluffy, warm and delicious. These are my favorite item on the menu and will keep coming back just for this. The pan fried dumplings are also top tier, but similar to many of the other dumplings chinatown has to offer. With an extra 1.50 they come with chili and garlic oil which is a necessary addition, as it makes the pan fried dumplings that much better.

Alex B.

Yelp
First time trying dumplings and was extremely disappointed, they were supposed to be fried to I'm expecting some crisp or crunch and they were soggy. The taste was not good at all , service was fast and the door was busy. Biggest turn off besides the food was finding drug needles in the bathroom, very disturbing and gross.

Erica K.

Yelp
Vanessa's Dumpling House is a must-visit spot in New York's Chinatown, and for good reason. Their pan-fried vegan beef dumplings are a delicious treat that keeps me coming back every time I'm in the city. You can expect the typical rushed but friendly service you'd expect from a Chinatown eatery, the ambience at Vanessa's is great. The cozy, intimate vibe of the place is enhanced by the tight seating arrangement, which somehow adds to the charm rather than detracts from it. But let's talk about the dumplings. Each bite is bursting with flavor, and the crispy exterior gives way to a savory vegan beef filling that's simply irresistible. Whether you're a die-hard vegan or just looking to try something new, Vanessa's Dumplings are sure to impress.

Hannah C.

Yelp
Quick and tasty - it doesn't get better than that! I stopped by this restaurant for a quick bite and was blown away by the food. The service was super fast - I got my food within five minutes of ordering. The interior of the restaurant was fine, but the food was the star of the show. The chive and pork pan fried dumplings were excellent, so chewy with a crispy bottom. The filling was savory, and I could clearly taste the fresh chives. I would recommend getting the spicy chili oil with garlic with the dumplings - it made a huge difference. I believe it costs an extra $1.50 to get the sauce added. The chili oil was fragrant and provided a good kick to the meal. I also got the vegetable sesame pancake sandwich, which I was pleasantly surprised by. The sesame pancake was steaming and perfectly flaky, providing a nice juxtaposition to the fresh vegetables inside the sandwich. I would come back here for another quick bite because the restaurant was so good!

Chloe K.

Yelp
Saw so many good reviews here and decided to come here to try for myself! Your typical ghetto / hole-in-the-wall Chinese place, where you get very nervous when placing your order because they might yell at you if you don't know what you want LOL The dumplings were just okay to me - I personally like thinner wrappers. But the sesame pancake sandwich was bomb! If I come back I'll try other flavors for sure!

Kimberly W.

Yelp
A popular tourist attraction in NYC. I remember when their dumplings were $1.50 back in the day. Now it's like $6 for 8, which is okay in NYC. Especially with high rent in the city and since dine-in restaurants are even more expensive for the same quality. Their quality has stayed the same and their dumplings and scallion pancakes are always up to par, delicious!

Martha K.

Yelp
This place was located in Chinatown and we stopped by for a quick bite. I loved how cheap the prices were for really good food. The line wasn't too long and it didn't take a while for our food to come out. We got the pork and chive dumplings, which tasted great for the price we were paying. It was a bit crispy on the side and very juicy. The star of the show was the sesame pancake with Peking duck! It had a bit of vegetables inside and it tasted amazing. I would definitely recommend getting that out of all of the other items on the menu. People eat and leave pretty fast, so there was seating available during the time we went as well. Pretty busy place, but worth it! Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5

Fabienne M.

Yelp
I stumbled in here while waiting on my bus to Richmond, and it didn't disappoint. A menu filled with different dumplings from pork save chives, seafood, and vegetables. Different sauces to try spicy, soy. They have smoothies as well and a variety of boba teas. I got the passion fruit green tea and it was so refreshing and tasty. The spicy pork and chives were also pretty decent cones with 8 for a small price of $5.50 you can't beat that. They have a small seating area inside so you can dine in or take out.

Nelson Z.

Yelp
We stopped by here for a quick bite and got the pan fried pork & chive dumplings and the Shrimp boiled dumplings (made it spicy)! Both were really good, I like how they were making them there fresh. They were filling and would definitely come back for more. We came on Monday evening and it wasn't so busy. We were able to sit, eat and then were on our way out! The boiled dumplings with the chili oil, scallions and garlic were my favorite. I want to come back and try the duck scallion pancake next time!

T. G.

Yelp
Very good! Stopped by to try Sesame Pancake with Peking Duck - dumplings looked very good but we didn't try those. The pancake was a little oily but good. Service was pretty quick and they do have a couple tables inside but not many. Would absolutely like to stop back in - CASH ONLY.

J G.

Yelp
Filling, so reasonably priced. Fast efficient service. Flavorful dumpling and noodles. Soups were a bit flavorless. Wish the chicken noodle soup had ginger or something. Broth was so watery. But if you're looking for something low cal- this may be your jam. But the scallion pancake sandwich for $3.50 Stuffed with pickled veggie was incredible and HUGE and my 6 year old love it. Everyone loved the veggie dumpling, peanut noodles and chicken dumplings. Would absolutely eat here again.

Alyssa P.

Yelp
Delicious dumplings and a large variety! Super fast service too. I like how all the different types are colored. Would come here again.

Duane G.

Yelp
We go to Vanessa's occasionally whenever we need our dumpling fix. There are few places we've been to that are as consistent with their dumplings as Vanessa's while having the number of options that they have available, including their sesame pancake sandwiches--I have to recommend the Peking duck if you do get it. This time around I tried their pork fried buns, which were underwhelming compared to the other food I've had from there. The service is relatively blunt, which is (to me) understandable because of the sheer amount of activity they tend to have; every single time I've visited, they've basically been bustling and packed, a testament to their quality. Because of this, I definitely suggest calling your order in ahead of arrival--it'll make things easier. Go here, and they just might become your go-to for your own dumpling fix!

Jenna B.

Yelp
We came to Vanessa's Dumpling House as part of our Lower East Side food tour while in New York. Since it was part of the food tour, our experience was different than the typical one, but we were still able to experience the atmosphere and the delicious dumplings. The interior of the restaurant is cozy, with only about 6 or 7 medium-sized tables. With all the rave reviews we had read, our expectations were high. We had the chance to sample the pork dumplings, which arrived piping hot. They had a lot of flavor, although I must admit I expected to be a bit more impressed. I'd like to come back here to try different types of dumplings they have to offer so I can get the full experience

Sam O.

Yelp
It was rainy, windy, and very cold, but we decided to endure the elements to make our way to Vanessa's in Chinatown, which came highly recommended by local friends. Absolutely worth it! Don't be fooled by the simple and unimpressive interior. The food here is excellent! We ordered at the counter and took a seat. Our food was made fresh and was ready in a matter of minutes. We chose the pork and shrimp dumplings, the pan fried pork and chive dumplings, and the sesame pancake sandwich with Peking duck. Everything was excellent! Husband loves Peking duck and loved his sandwich. The dumplings were fantastic. The pork and shrimp were topped with chili oil, which was a perfect addition. The pork and chive dumplings did not come with any sort of sauce, but were equally tasty. Prices were very reasonable and we both left very full to trek through the weather again. Separately, I was happy to find and confirm that our favorite dumplings place in Texas, where we live, is on par with Vanessa's for authentic and delicious dumplings!

Ashley W.

Yelp
I had no clue they had this sesame pancake sandwich. ITS AMAZING! You have to get this. The dumplings are solid and cheap but wow this blew my mind. It comes out relatively quick but there can be a wait. So obsessed with this sandwich with the pork was incredibly tasty. Cash only Some seating

Angel P.

Yelp
Cash only. We came on a Friday night and it was busier than usual. We got the chive and pork dumplings, Dan Dan mien, and plain sesame pancake. The dumplings were good, had a nice amount of filling, and a nice crisp from the pan frying. Dan dan mien were good and flavorful. The sesame pancake was good, but I would get a filling with it next time. There are a few large tables, but it's not a sit down restaurant so most people sit and leave quickly. There is a bathroom in the back. They are usually quick, but there was a bit of wait this time.

Emma F.

Yelp
Great place if you like thicker-skinned dumplings. Very no frills place, order at the window, and find a table to eat (chili oil is extra). I loved that you can get the dumplings boiled, fried, or in soup depending on your preference. Seating is not guaranteed but usually I can find somewhere to sit. Also tried the Dan Dan Noodles and Sesame Pancake which were fine, but the dumplings are really where they shine.

Powell M.

Yelp
My (and many others') destination for dumplings. I get mixed steamed, spicy beef friend, and the pork buns...oohhh, pork buns. Hot and sour soup is good as well. The shrimp dumplings are so tender.

Rehnuma K.

Yelp
1/1 Ambience; 2/2 Food; 1/1 Service; 1/1 Value Some friends and I started our Chinatown food tour at Vanessa's, a modest and casual eatery with limited seating serving up amazing dumplings. The restaurant is clean and really busy being so popular. The service is really quick and efficient. The kitchen is open, so you can see the dumplings being prepared by hand in front of you. I got the pan fried chicken dumpling with the chili oil and scallions. I thought these were some of the best dumplings I've ever had-- fresh, juicy, and savory filling wrapped in a thin and slightly crispy wrapper. The chili oil and scallions were not spicy, but amplified the umami deliciousness of the meal. I devoured mine in minutes! Although the dumplings are a bit on the pricier side relative to the many other dumpling shops nearby, I think the price is justified given the high quality! I would highly recommend and will definitely be coming back!

Cindy C.

Yelp
Amazing, quick, affordable, and delicious dumplings. We had fried dumplings with pork and chives which had just the right amount of dough, and the inside was so juicy. The boiled dumpling of pork and cabbage were equally fantastic. Definitely add the sauce on top! The duck pancake was delicious, would have liked more duck and crispy skin inside it. Definitely a place to return.

Dzvinka S.

Yelp
I've ordered from here several times and haven't been disappointed once. The dumplings arrive fresh and hot, I highly recommend the pan fried pork dumplings for anyone who's looking to find their next go-to dumpling shop.

Christine G.

Yelp
Fresh and delicious dumplings at a decent price. Self-seating with a decent amount of tables and chairs, a lot of people were ordering theirs to-go. Small line that moved quickly and the food came out steaming and ready to eat! The fried dumplings are our favorite!

Deon B.

Yelp
While I don't think the taste of the dumplings are bad I think the initial coloring my be a bit daunting. The food comes out really quick even though the place is busy.

Aditi T.

Yelp
The vegan beef pan fried dumplings I'm not even vegan but these are my go to with a veggie sesame pancake. The flavors are so unique and delicious. 10/10 meal

Rusty R.

Yelp
Very fast service (my dumplings were ready before my credit card finished processing). No tolerance for dilly-dallying. Wish you could mix & match. Absolutely no-frills interior, but it was clean and I had a place to sit for the 5 minutes it took me to eat.

Sherry W.

Yelp
It is a largely known dumpling chain and made more aware to tourists by reviews. It became overrated and a known tourist spot but still have somewhat decent offerings. I took my friend here as she really wanted dumplings and I figure since most tourists and non-Asians customers come here, she can try the dumplings while ordering in English without any issues. The dumplings are smaller and more doughier... not as crisp or juicy. The hot sauce Sriracha is more watered down (Sriracha is more expensive so I expected most places use other brands) but it was watered down liquid hot sauced. Quality did changed from the times when it was a small hole in wall before getting blown up. Again, I only took her here since the staff can understand English and this quick eatery can satisfy her dumpling crave.

Chithra V.

Yelp
Great dumpling place. I went there for the first time and absolutely loved it. The service was faster but it was very crowded so good luck finding a table to dine. The prices were reasonable; infact cheap! I even got frozen dumplings since their taste was amazing. The pancake sandwich was huge and filling. Definitely going there again to taste other dumplings. Highly recommend this place!

Caroline L.

Yelp
Not bad for Chinese food at an American mall. The Dan Dan noodles hit the spot. We also had the beef noodles which were hand drawn. My 6 year old who is particular with food ate the noodles so that's how I know it's good. It's near the Lady M and Van Lewan as a bonus. There's ample seating nearby and it's not too crowded Pro tip: don't order on GrubHub. This restaurant's food is marked up 20% on that platfom as compared to the counter

Kimberly G.

Yelp
For a no-frills dumpling spot in the city, this is your place! Everything is consistently delicious and freshly made! On Friday, I visited for lunch and was lucky enough to find a seat as seating is limited. I had the assorted steam dumplings of vegetables, chicken, pork, and seafood. They are all equally good! The passionfruit green tea with lychee is the best! Also, the scallion pancakes are always worth ordering; I love the pork ones! All in all, Vanessa's is a delicious place to go if you're in the mood for great Chinese food at reasonable prices!

Alexis C.

Yelp
Good, cheap, and quick spot to grab dumplings. I've been here a handful of times and I'm glad they opened up some other locations. In Chinatown there's a ton of alternative places to go and get dumplings but I feel like this place is a classic. The location itself is small and the seating area is also on the smaller sides, but it's a no frills type of place with solid food. I came here with a guest after we had wonton noodle soup at another restaurant in Chinatown and we ordered 2 dumplings. We got the spicy beef fried dumplings and the pan fried pork and chive dumplings. After eating this we were pretty stuffed, but if both of us were totally hungry and didn't eat prior I don't think this would have been enough food as in we may have ordered one (or two) more. But what we ordered worked out well and we left very happy. Will definitely be going back when I'm in town.

H S.

Yelp
I have a loved Vanessa's for years and last time I went, it felt more doughy and less flavorful . Still good, But perhaps there are better options to try next time . Hot chili sauce is a bit extra bit but a must have ! Don't forget I, I always have to back through the line again.

Myra F.

Yelp
Had the shrimp and chicken dumplings and they were delicious. The place is cash only but they do have an ATM inside for convenience.

Amanda G.

Yelp
I've never had a bad dumpling at Vanessa's. Their filling to wrap ratio is great and even with their price increase, you get a big bang for your buck. If I'm in the area with the fam, we'll order a couple of different types and just chow in the car. My tiny tot absolutely loves dumplings, probably more than me, which I could not believe was humanly possible. One thing about this place, however, is that they're always packed to the seams and it gets kind of crazy with people hovering near the plexiglass, despite having JUST ordered while there are five people that ordered before them. As hectic as it looks, however, the staff is quite organized with their service. I ordered one time in person but I'll never order on site again. I'll always order through the Yelp app for convenience and have never had an issue with my order. GRUB RUNDOWN: Dumplings - We love all things dumpling here. They've never been a miss. My faves include the basil & chicken dumpling, shrimp dumpling, shrimp & chicken wonton, and spicy beef dumpling. Other than that, the guys might also get the pork & chive dumplings as well. We usually order a lot because some of us like the spicy sauce and some do not, including my tiny tot (we're building up her tolerance, tho). In any case, you can always order the spicy sauce on the side. I would also insist on asking for more dipping sauce. Even when we've ordered enough for a small army, they've given us too few dipping sauces so make sure to get extra. Dan Dan Mein - I have only ever ordered the dan dan noodz with spicy beef sauce and they are really good. The noodles are served with julienned carrots and cukes on top, along with the sauce of your choosing. They're definitely shareable. I love getting a bunch of different things so that we can eat family-style and try a little bit of everything. Soups - I've ordered wonton soups before and since it's a drive to get home, I'll ask for the wontons to be packed separate from the broth so that they don't get too soggy and break apart. Once home, adding a little broth to them will loosen them from each other, as they tend to stick together. The dumplings are always good but In my opinion, the broth leaves something to be desired; it is a bit bland. I usually order this for my little and she likes it, so it's no biggie for me. I have also ordered the white meat chicken noodle soup for her before and that had way more flavor but prefers the wonton soup, so she wins. Sesame Pancake - My guys like these sandos. My son always gets the Peking duck with extra meat and hubby will get the beef or chicken versions. I've had the duck sando before but it's a little bit too greasy for me and I find there's not enough meat filling and I can't resolve the need to order extra meat just to make it better, so I've never ordered it again for myself. To reiterate, I prefer ordering from the Yelp app. It's easy and efficient, and even if you have tons of requests, they follow everything. They will mark all the dumpling packs for you if you request, and separate your dumplings from the broth if you order soups. I've ordered from the UWS location as well and both are the same, save for a bit of a price difference which is weird; some items cost more at either location, I'm assuming based upon the demand in that area. Regardless, when ordering via the app, nothing beats that feeling of walking into an incredibly bustling restaurant, slithering your way up to the front, giving your name and having your food handed to you while others salivate in disbelief.