This place has gotten GENTRIFIED AF! I remember coming here as a kid and getting the veggie pancake and dumplings. These days the place is full of transplants eating dumplings, menu is the same but of course prices have gone up. I got a vegetable pancake for old time's sake and I was very pleased. They have expanded their menu and even have VEGAN DUMPLINGS!!!!!! They now have their own brands of sauce! I cannot wait to come and try some other dishes! Service is fast casual and the place does smell like fry oil, classic chinatown. read more

Disappointed to see how much the quality has dropped here. The pan-fried dumplings have noticeably shrunk in size. More surprisingly, the pork wontons didn't have actual ground meat inside anymore, it tasted like a low quality sausage instead. Vanessa's used to be a childhood go to, but the current quality just isn't the same. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

This dumpling house is a quick and casual spot for some cozy Chinese food. You can order at a kiosk here or at the counter and the food comes out fairly fast. They have a variety of dumplings here as well as some noodle dishes and scallion pancakes. I got their duck scallion pancake and their pork and chive pan-fried dumplings. I thought that their duck scallion pancake was great, but could use just a bit for sauce. Meanwhile, their pan-fried dumplings were delicious, full of meat, and juicy. I also added spicy sauce, which I felt like was a bit too salty for me. Next time, I would go without the sauce. Nonetheless, it's a great no-frills spot for a quick bite. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Duck scallion pancake and dumplings - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

its been a solid 10.5 yrs, but i came back baby. this time with my lover because he needs to learn. Alright, either im softening up or they got better? first off, early january was the prime time to come here. The other 2 times i have been, i made the mistake of trekking down here in the summer. stay away. lines are way too long. January? it was filled, but no lines and we grabbed a seat. they take cards, min 10. or order at the kiosk to put in any min. sesame pancake is about 1.50 but needs to be cooked more. i wanted more crisp. however, its incredibly filling and great flavor. easily shared. the 8 pan fried chicken basil dumplings are a MUST GET. theyre small, but loaded. the chicken and seasoning flavor comes through. I cant believe i only got the veggie ones the other times. my date loved the pork! would love to grab a bag to go next time! pricing of these did go up in comparison to 10 yrs ago but pork and chicken were each 5.50 for 8 in a serving. food came out fairly quick! read more

Disappointing for the hype. Too much dough to filling ratio. Drowning it in soy sauce and chili oil didn't help unfortunately read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - 11. 红油抄手Wontons with Spicy Sauce - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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The service was a bit slow each time we came but that's probably because of abundance of orders just a few people handle. The noodle soup were absolutely delicious!! Cannot go wrong here! It is definitely very crowded in the restaurant while you wait for the order though is a bummer read more

Yummmm and cheap!! Pork and shrimp were both good. My favorite was def the fried spicy pork. The duck sandwich was also good but kind of dry?? Or at least the bread. Super worth the cost though. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Duck sandwich - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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Quick counter service for your quick Chinese fix. I can honestly say food, service and cleanliness is above average but not equal to Flushing or even Chinatown. Don't get me wrong, for the Neighbourhood, they do a good job and provide an alternative to the burgers and steaks around the area. An excellent spot if you're on a budget. read more

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I had to leave this review due to poor handling. I visited with two friends during Lunar Year, so I understand they were busy. We ordered back to back, but my friend's orders came 30 minutes apart, and mine took an additional 30 minutes. They almost discarded my ticket, thinking it was already made, and prepared a separate catering order for my dumplings before starting mine. My boba sat and diluted, and my sesame sandwich got cold. They gave me the sandwich while I waited, but it had a hair in it. I informed the worker, who just put it under the counter, then made me a new one and apologized. However, the wait was an hour, and I paid $20 for this experience. To top it off, the dumplings I received were pork instead of chicken, which I don't eat. All due aside i respect that the timing and quality could have depended on the circumstances. This was just my first impression of the restaurant and how they handled this situation. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - sesame pancake, coconut boba. sitting after an hour wait - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

I grew up eating dumplings in the Chinatown area and have been to three different Vanessa's over the years. The one that was closed on E 14th street, the Brooklyn one and also the Chinatown one. Their prices are adjusted according to the neighborhood you're in. I can justify when I was on East 14th street I need to pay a little higher price because there aren't a lot of dumpling places around, other than MiMi Cheng's a couple of blocks away. I always thought the Chinatown location should also do the same pricing as the competition in the neighborhood is high. There are literally 2-3 dumpling places nearby that have better pricing and better quality dumplings than Venessa's. Yesterday, when I ordered a wonton soup because I wanted something different for the rainy weather. It was a complete disappointment. There was no meat in the wontons just a thumb size bits. The whole quart was full of wontons wrappers with a few vegetable leaves. The meat tasted so sour and it felt like it was left in the fridge for a long time. Never again. I'll go wait in the long line on Grand street for better quality food at a lower price. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - 28a. Pork Wonton Soup - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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Good service, doesnt take long after you order. Food tastes good and is affordable. Beef and veges are tasty but the pancake is a bit oily bc it's fried and tea is on sweeter side. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Beef sesame sandwich $6.50 - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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The food is going downhill day after day. I used to like their hot and sour soup but it was a hit or miss. It's been a miss lately... and for some reason it's just sweet and sour. The dumplings have downsized and no longer pan fried until crispy. It's just doughy. The spicy cucumber used to be good. But now it's pretty bland. read more

I ordered the sesame pancake sandwich with Peking duck, spicy beef fried dumplings, and an iced milk tea. The duck sandwich was good, but the spicy beef dumplings were excellent. They sit in a base of tasty chili oil that I would call very mild heat. Ambiance is fast casual- order at the counter and wait for your number to be called. They have a couple tables inside if you want to eat in. Like a lot of local places, this one also sells some of their dumplings frozen if you want to take them home. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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Got an assortment of dumplings here to eat in. You order on a kiosk and pick up when they call your number. It's pretty streamlined and fast. The inside has a couple of tables with sauces but it's mostly self service. Wish the spicy items were a lot spicier but it seems great for people who don't have a high spice tolerance. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

One of the best value dumplings here in Chinatown. Juicy, plenty of options, big portion size. Also nice plate of DanDan ramen. read more

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We heard about this place from a friend who's from the area so we had to check it out. This place was busy when we showed up and the seats were full but it didn't take too long to get our food and some seats surprisingly! We got some Dan Dan noodles and veggie dumplings. My partner had the pork & chive. We both enjoyed our food! The Dan Dan noodles were refreshing and the dumplings were nice & juicy. I can see why this place was so busy! read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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You like dumplings, they got em for you. Nice selection all made fresh and served hot. Service is good you order at the counter and it gets to your table. The place is clean and open nice seating options. Only had the dumplings but they offer other choices I need to try at some point. read more

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Stopped in for a quick dumpling fix while in town. We ordered at the tablet kiosk and waited for a seat to become available. They were slammed, so our order took a bit to be prepared, but by that time we had found seating. The food was okay - we ordered a variety of dumplings, noodles, kimchi, and soup. The dumplings were good, but definitely needed the spicy sauce to add some flavor. The peanut noodles were delicious and really hit the spot. The kimchi was good, not too spicy but just the right amount of zest. It was a good experience, but would try some others in the area too before returning. read more

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It's a small, no frills spot where you can take out or eat at the tables. When we visited on a Saturday it was busy and a little chaotic with a bit of a wait to get our order. They have an ordering kiosk and the staff will call your number when ready. Despite the chaos the food was great. Strong flavors and really satisfying dumplings - both pan fried and steamed. They also have some good vegetarian options. read more

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! read more

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This is one of Chinatown cheap eats. You order food from the kiosk and wait for them to call your number. The seats filled up. Just be aware of your surroundings because there's a homeless man who came in asking us for money when we were sitting and eating our food. read more

Some of the tastiest dumplings I've ever had. They make their own sauces to go along. Sooo good. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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! read more

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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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Pork and 01. Chive and Pork Dumplings with chili oil - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Bubble Milk Tea - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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It's always nice to return to places where you are truly welcome. Fresh and delicious food, a warm welcome from the staff, and pleasant service. Surprisingly low prices, a wide assortment, and attentive service. Thank you read more

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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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Menu - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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Really solid veggie options for reasonable prices. The veggie dumplings have a great texture and flavor. The vegan dan dan noodles are way lighter in a good way than others I've had and what a deal! Seemed hard to get a seat because it was so busy but everyone seemed to be very happy enjoying their food. We weren't planning on getting anything else but saw them making the sesame bread and had to get a piece. Glad we did because it was my favorite part read more

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We love Vanessa's Dumpling House. Their scallion pancakes are pretty perfect. It has a chew, a bite, and yet melts in your mouth. I love the veggie sandwich with raw veggies & their chili sauce with vinegar to cut the richness of the pancakes. It's a great snack and if you have your own meat, cheese, or fillings from anywhere else, come here to pick up some of their sandwich break (aka scallion pancake) read more

Always looking for a dumpling when in NYC. Went for a quick lunch. Dumplings: spectacular and delicious. Ambiance: Dodgy at best. Service: Not with a smile and very confusing. We will call your number. "Number 4". Walk up. "Not that number 4 two number 4's". Drinks? Confused lady calls young guy who speaks English. Points and says go back to that fridge and get the yourself. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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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 :) read more

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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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - 03a. Basil and Chicken Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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Disgusting quality food! I think my dumplings must have been made 4 years ago because they were disgusting and funky. Just gross! read more

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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Pork Fried Bun - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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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. read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Indoors - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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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. read more

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Wouldn't come back due to the poor service and the facilities were dirty. Most importantly, the dumps ain't good. Rather go king dump!! read more

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

Pan fried fresh dumplings . So excited this was a stop on a food tour. Pork and chive dumplings soft and crisped on the bottom very tasty. The inside is small, simple tables and chairs. Friendly staff! I would return likely opt to take to go! read more