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| - I haven't been here in many months now but there I was, all waxing nostalgic for dumplings earlier today, and here I am now, extolling the virtues of this wonderful dumpling bastion up in the great white north (york).
Located in a tiny circular street surrounded by condos off Yonge south of Finch, this is a small (and I mean 4 tables with no proper washroom and only one person in the kitchen small) mom and pop type dumpling joint. The couple who own it come from Dalian, China (known for its fresh seafood) and both the size and their background come through on their menu.
They offer several different types of dumplings in three styles: steamed, boiled, and fried. The interesting thing about the fried is that they are deep fried (!?) as opposed to the potsticker kind you typically see due to the whole one person in the kitchen thing. One of their better, if not arguably one of their best, dumpling offerings are their fish or seafood dumplings. They have others such as pork and napa, beef and onions, or egg and chive.
For $6-7 dollars, you get 16 (!) dumplings done the way you want (although I prefer steamed most of the time). There nothing quite like that first juicy bite of a freshly steamed dumpling followed by the subsequent bursts of umami packed flavour as you dip it into a mixture of chili oil, chinese vinegar, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
More salient points as to how awesome this place is:
- Their chili oil and fresh noodles are made in house
- The male owner who you usually see in the front is super friendly and doesn't like to accept tips (but I remember leaving one anyway)
- Great sides (the cucumber one as well as the raw potato one come to mind)
- Gratis tea
Dumpling places are few and far between in Toronto (certainly fewer serving mainland style ones like DK) but what with the recent growing pains of Mother's Dumplings at their new location and Dumpling House's past track record of rats, I'd much rather make the longer trek over to the King, where I can certainly feast like one on an affordable budget.
PS: This spot has no relation whatsoever to Dumpling King in Scarborough.
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