Chinatown NYC is a great center for some seriously scrumptious Asian eats- bubble tea, dim sum, and congee are just some of the treats that you can find there! In my post today I’m going to review one of my favorite soup dumpling places- Joe’s Shanghai!
The restaurant is nestled into the side of a narrow street at 46 Bowery, has grimy windows and an entrance right next to the door of another business, so restaurant patrons are always bumping into people exiting or entering the other business. But don’t let the unassuming exterior of the store fool you- the raving newspapers and reviews plastered behind the windows and the long line of chattering people clustered around outside the door are testament to the restaurant’s superior food! My parents were going to Joe’s even before I was born, and after I arrived on the scene they brought me there too, simply increasing the number of steamers they ordered as I grew up. When my parents and I are in the mood for soup dumplings on Sunday, there is always a massive line to wait in, and the inside of the restaurant is packed to capacity. We almost always have to share a table with another party, but the food is so delicious that it’s well worth it!
Now, when we go to Joe’s Shanghai, we always order one dish and one dish only– crab with pork meat soup dumplings. Of course, we could order other dishes, but we’ve always just ordered this, and it’s become our staple. I see it as sort of like having a favorite ice cream flavor- sure, when I head down to my usual ice cream shop, I could try any of the many flavors available- but why would I when I already know what I like?
Not only is the food delectable, but the atmosphere of the restaurant is always lively and spirited, which is unsurprising, considering the number of patrons is practically spilling out the door. Being amidst the warm, neon-lit interior of the restaurant with the sounds of chattering people all around gives the place a wonderful, spirited feeling of people sharing good food and engaging conversation.
After placing our usual order, we can rest assured that each steamer of dumplings will come to the table piping hot and freshly made. When the cover is lifted off, the aroma of savory crab and fresh scent of flour always wafts out in a tantalizing haze. The cluster of pale dumplings sit atop a layer of cabbage leaves, and the carefully pleated tips of each are topped with a clump of bright orange crab meat to denote their flavor. The wrapper that encases each dumpling is very thin and delicately chewy, and contains within it a mouthwatering mixture of soup and meat. The soft, doughy wrapper is thin enough to prevent it from overpowering the hardiness of the meaty mixture within it, which is a deliciously savory blend of fresh, salty crab meat and rich, hearty pork. A cube of frozen soup is placed in each dumpling along with the meat wrapped up, so after steaming, there’s a mouthful of hot, meat-infused soup within the wrapper as well. Each dumpling is a symphony of expertly executed textures and flavors, and we enjoy them so immensely that we go through four steamers of them each time. Each person is also given a small dish of soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger strips for dipping, which adds another layer of flavor to the experience! Even the cabbage leaves under the dumplings in each basket pair well with them, as they’re fresh and light, and pair well with the richness of the soup dumplings.
Joe’s Shanghai is another great stop at Chinatown if you’re craving some top-notch soup dumplings, but keep in mind that the restaurant is often packed on weekends, because the deliciousness of Joe’s cooking is known far and wide.
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