Watch CBS News

Lunch Break: Dumplings And Dan Dan Noodles

Fantastic dumplings, Filipino food for the senses, or decadent BBQ is what you'll find in today's Lunch Break. By Yvo Sin.

White Bear

White Bear
(credit: feistyfoodie.com)

135-02 Roosevelt Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 961-2322

See Also: The Top 5 Spots For Dumplings In NYC

The awning may say "ICE CREAM" and the menu may have other items on it, but make no mistake: you are there for one thing and one thing alone. The best Sichuan dumplings with chili oil (pictured) that you will ever eat in your entire life can be found here. Order #6 - 12 such dumplings for $4.50 - and wait eagerly for the Styrofoam container to be passed to you as you hand over your money. Try to be patient, or you may just burn your mouth on each succulent, tender morsel. The skin is impossibly thin, breaking apart with pressure from your teeth to reveal juicy, flavorful pork. The crunchy pickled veggies tossed casually on top create a textural contrast to make you smile, while the chili oil - frighteningly bright red - adds just the slightest touch of heat to eat bite. You've just experienced dumpling nirvana - but if that isn't enough, the dan-dan noodles (#12) are also an excellent addition to round out any lunch.

Tito Rad's Grill & Restaurant

Tito Rad's Grill & Restaurant
(credit: Lizz K.)

49-12 Queens Blvd
Sunnyside, NY 11104
(718) 205-7299
titorads.com

At Tito Rad's, you'll feel right at home eating the bountiful delicious, authentic Filipino food - if you grew up in a Filipino home. The beef steak with onions comes incredibly juicy, with a sauce that delicately balances savory and sour, screaming for a bowl of fluffy white rice to sop it up. The mongo (mung bean soup) is neither too thick nor too thin, sitting squarely on just right, but these are all just preludes to the main event: crispy pata (pictured). Pork leg, cooked, then chopped open and fried to get the outside crispy and yummy, while the inside remains tender and fatty, is nothing short of a heart attack on a plate... and so worth it. Waddle out happily, knowing you've just taken a peek into the heady world of pork loving Filipino feasting.

RUB BBQ

RUB
(credit: feistyfoodie.com)

208 W. 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 524-4300
rubbbq.net/

See Also: NYC's 8 Best BBQ Restaurants

RUB, or Righteous Urban BBQ, offers plenty on the menu to bring a smile to anyone's face. From chili cheese fries - smothered in liquid cheese and their homemade chili, made with the house-smoked brisket, to fried green tomatoes, barbecue wings, or barbecue bacon chunks, there's really just too many delicious items to be satisfied with a single trip. Smoked pastrami is also a standout; combining the classic New York taste of pastrami with the smoking process results in super tender, super smoky sliced meat...goodness in your belly. Wash it all down with a sweet tea or a lemonade, and finish your meal with a bacon chocolate chip cookie.

For the latest on where to eat in the Tri-State, follow us on Twitter!

Yvo Sin is the founder and head writer of The Feisty Foodie.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.