If you’re in NYC, you have to try some dumplings and the sesame pancakes here. Everything is made fresh all day, the pancakes are the size of flying saucers, the place is almost always overflowing with a varied cast of New Yorkers in need of tasty and cheap sustenance. My favorite is the sesame pancake with tuna which will set you back a princely $1.75. As a general tip, an excess of shyness is not very helpful if you’re trying to get the harried staff’s attention and, talking of tips, consider donating your change to the staff tip jar (you won’t regret it).

There’s more info in this review and interview with owner Vanessa Duan from The Villager.

Man brandishes pancakes in non-threatening manner:

Making them into monster sesame pancake sandwiches:

Update 1/16/08: The Dumpling House has recently taken over the next door space and adopted a computerized system to take orders. The space is lovely and there’s much more seating, but it’s hard not to miss the crammed, anarchic intimacy of the former incarnation a little bit.