Dumplings

China Mama: Popular Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas Chinatown

Mama's Special Pan Fried Pork Buns, China Mama's, Las Vegas, Nevada

China Mama is a well-known and popular Chinese restaurant located in Las Vegas Chinatown, just a short drive west of the Las Vegas Strip. Loved by both locals and visitors, the neighborhood eatery is renowned for its extensive menu featuring dumplings, steamed buns, and other authentic Chinese dishes. I’ve wanted to try China Mama for a while, but I’ve never had the chance until now. Since it was a busy Friday night, I knew I would have to wait for …

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Shanghai Taste: Authentic xiao long bao in Las Vegas

The colorful Xiao Long Bao

Over the last decade, I have been lucky enough to have traveled to China many times. On these trips, I have experienced new flavors and foods including authentic xiao long bao. Unfortunately, traveling internationally is all but impossible these days. This means if I want to taste the flavors and foods from my travels, I have to search for them closer to home. If you are looking for Asian food in Las Vegas, you go to one place: Chinatown. Though …

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Milkbar Tomasza: Modern Polish Milk Bar in Kraków, Poland

If you are hungry, go for the Irish Breakfast

Located in Kraków’s Old Town is Milkbar Tomasza, a modern interpretation of a Soviet-style milk bar, or cafeteria found across Poland. The ubiquitous milk bar or bar mleczny served poor citizens cheap meals. Dishes included dairy products, traditional Polish dishes, and pierogi (dumplings). After World War I, these self-service milk bars started appearing nationwide. Many opened after World War 2 and throughout the Cold War era (1947 to 1989). But, with the collapse of the communist bloc, most milk bars …

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Ippudo Ginza: Popular ramen chain in Tokyo, Japan

The Ippudo Karaka

It was my last night in Tokyo, and I was looking for a place to eat near my Airbnb that wouldn’t break the bank. Unfortunately, I was staying in Ginza, one of the most expensive areas in Tokyo. Enter any restaurant in Ginza, and you can easily walk out with a 20,000 yen ($135) bill. While wandering the area, I stumbled upon Ippudo Ginza, a chain of ramen restaurants with locations found all across Japan and the world. Locations outside …

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Original Din Tai Fung location on Xinyi Road in Taipei, Taiwan

Busy workers making thousands of dumplings a day, Din Tai Fung, Taipei, Taiwan

I have an obsession with Din Tai Fung. Visiting the original location of Din Tai Fung was at the top of my list of must do things in Taipei. Founded in 1972, the dim sum restaurant today has branches in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and eleven other countries including the United States, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, China, Malaysia, and Thailand. The restaurant has become an international phenomenon for their Taiwanese soup dumplings known as xiao long bao. Many claim that …

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Harajuku Gyoza Lou: Some of the best dumplings in Tokyo

Pan Fried Dumplings with Garlic and Chives, Harajuku Gyoza Lou, Tokyo, Japan

Harajuku Gyoza Lou is a casual dumpling restaurant in Tokyo, famous for its pan-fried and steamed gyoza, served at an affordable price. The small eatery in the busy Shibuya Ward off Omotesandō Street has perfected the art of Chinese-style dumplings, or gyoza. It’s no secret why Harajuku Gyoza Lou has recently become so popular with locals, tourists, and foodies for their pan-fried and steamed dumplings. While the menu is small, where else can you get six freshly made, perfectly cooked …

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