Rickshaw Dumpling Truck @ 2011 Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar

The Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, 2011 Gourmet Food Truck Festival (Photo credit: Truckspotter)

What did I decide to do after a very filling brunch this past Sunday afternoon? And why did I have such a filling brunch to begin with on Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar-day? Who knows. In any case, not too long after Sunday brunch, I made way over to the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market to sample what I could. First up, the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck:

This was a major treat! I've seen this truck elsewhere but never had the chance to try it. I've also never been to it's mother, the Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, so I was ready to dive in. Sadly, the truck was so popular that they were out of several items, including the Pork & Chinese Chive Dumplings, a few sides, and the spicy peanut sauce. I ordered the Chicken & Thai Basil Dumplings ($6) which were supposed to be accompanied by the spicy peanut sauce, but instead, I had to settle for the Soy Sesame Dip (usually served with the Pork & Chinese Chive Dumplings). The sides cover a range of salads, soup, and edamame, but I didn't want to complicate things and decided to stick to a purely dumpling-situation.

But let's put the dumplings aside for a second and talk about the wonderful way in which they are served. The hardest part of eating truck food is the how/where. Sometimes the packaging/serving is quite bulky and standing just won't do. But Rickshaw Dumplings takes care of this problem by serving 6 delicious dumplings in a large, clear, plastic cup with a lid (sauce inside) and chopsticks. It makes me want to start a food truck for the sole purpose of serving food in a cup. This made things so much easier, especially since I had a few more trucks to try, and made carrying the leftovers in my bag a cinch.

Ok, now the dumplings - delightful! The only dumplings I've ever been impressed by and am somewhat committed to are the Joe's Shanghai soup dumplings (and a few momos on the streets of New Delhi). The Rickshaw dumplings have joined this elite crowd. They were thin, light, and slightly chewy, with a Thai-inspired filling of chicken and veggies that was equally light and flavorful. Instead of just a salty soy sauce concoction, this dip included small bits of green chili mixed in along with sesame seeds. I didn't miss the Spicy Peanut Dip at all (ok, maybe just a little). This light, steamy snack was perfect for the chilly day - filling, but not overwhelmingly so - and gets a perfect "A" grade.

If you don't have the time to chase it, then definitely check out this truck's parent restaurant. My taste of the truck menu has me convinced that it will be worth it.