Is the beef pancake ($2) at Tasty Dumpling our favorite in Chinatown? No, that honor would have to go to Vanessa's. But it's a solid sandwich regardless. More

Sometimes small sandwiches can be the most satisfying, especially when they erupt with porky juice on first bite. This pork and cabbage pancake ($1.50) is an even more portable version of Tasty Dumpling's gorgeously juicy pork and cabbage potsticker filling. More

Ever since we moved to our new office, at the border of Chinatown and Soho and what's left of Little Italy, we've become convinced that we are at the center of the Manhattan food universe. Five-for-a-dollar dumplings, fresh mozzarella, Spanish cured meats, fruit markets, $4 lunch specials, cannoli—it's all right here. These are a few of the spaces we've hit up so far; but don't worry, you'll be hearing about many, many more. More

Our desert island dumpling would be the chewy-crispy, pork-filled, Beijing-style guo tie. You'll see them on the menu as fried dumplings or potstickers. Last week, we visited every dumpling shop in Chinatown to see whose were best. More