Adventures in wasting time but not money
This week a friend and I, deciding that we needed a study break, set off for Chinatown in the Lower East Side. Our destination? Prosperity Dumpling on Eldridge Street.
How to get there: Take the 1 Train to 59th Street, then D Train to Lafayette Street, followed by a short walk to Eldridge Street. The trip took us about 40 minutes.
Sandya Sankarram/spec
Now, this place is what many consider a “hole in the wall.” This is because the restaurant is about the size of a John Jay single and barely has any seats to sit down for a meal- that is, unless you’re lucky enough to snag one of the six stools lining the walls. Most ordered take-out, but good luck if you don’t live in the area and can’t find a place to sit… [Edit: A commenter points out that Sara D. Roosevelt Park and Seward Park are a short five minute walk away.]
One more thing before I tell you why you should come here: this place is pretty far away from Canal Street, where a lot of the Chinatown scene is. You aren’t going to find super cheap five-dollar scarves or a row of adorable Asian bakeries right next to this restaurant. There was, however, a school named after Sun Yat-sen, as well as a ton of cheap fruit carts.
Sandya Sankarram/spec
Still, this place might just be worth it because it is just so cheap. $1 for five dumplings (flavors include Pork and Chives and Veggie). And these are multi-bite dumplings. But if you are still hungry, you could always just get a second order without feeling like you’re setting your wallet on fire. The dumplings were pretty good, but they definitely weren’t gourmet or anything. Think Koronet: cheap, does the trick. (Hmm.. I wonder if kids who go to school Downtown travel to Mo-Hi to do reviews on Koronet Pizza.)
Overall, I think Prosperity Dumplings is worth the visit, but make sure you bring company!
I can’t believe you trekked all the way there just for Prosperity Dumpling…it’s good but unless you are buying at least 30 dumplings to go or something it’s really not worth the trip.
ima call you out on Prosperity Dumpling being “far away from Canal Street, where most of the Chinatown scene is.” Prosperity Dumpling is displaced from where most of the tourist scene is. There is an incredible amount of activity in the eastern part of Manhattan chinatown. in fact, there are a number of asian bakeries within 1 block of Prosperity, including Natalie Bakery, Ka Wah, and Lucky King Bakery, to name just a few.finding a place to sit? how about Sara D. Roosevelt Park or Seward Park, less than a 5 minute walk away. In short, you are terribly misinformed.
Thanks for letting me know. I’m adding some of the things you said into the post.
I go to Prosperity at least once a week. It is my heaven of delicious cheap dumplings in which I spend $4 for a whole meal and am always satisfied.
And Jason might be right, but his comment makes him sound like an ass.
he Kanye West’d it
prosperity is the best!
I intended to sound that way and put my name on it for a reason.
a first name AND a last name.
You’re an asshole, Jason, and you’re an even bigger asshole for being proud of it.
Cool column. I hope you write more of these during the summer!
Don’t be knockin’ John Jay singles! Just kidding, I wish the “hole in the wall” that I live in could magically produce a constant supply of delicious, fried, Prosperity dumplings. Oh and sesame pancakes…
This place is awesome!!!