Drunken Dumpling returns

Drunken Dumpling reopened this past Thursday at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

The family-owned restaurant specializing in Chinese potstickers, pork buns and jumbo soup dumplings had been closed since the NY PAUSE of March 2020. 

According to its Instagram account, DD is in a soft-reopen mode at the moment with a more limited menu. New hours: Sunday-Thursday from 2 p.m. to midnight, with a 2 a.m. close on Friday and Saturday.

TBH, the place looked like a goner in late 2020 and early 2021 with stacks of mail piling up inside. However, DD announced earlier this fall that they'd be back.

DD opened in the fall of 2016 and received favorable press for its gigantic soup dumplings created by the mother-son team here. 

H/T Steven

Drunken Dumpling will be serving up its large soup dumplings again soon

Several businesses are reopening after 18-month layoffs during the pandemic (see Blue & Gold and Tom & Jerry's).

Also on the list: Drunken Dumpling, which is expected to be back soon at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

The place looked like a goner, with stacks of mail piled up inside the front door. However, EVG contributor Steven saw activity inside the space last week... The DD Instagram account also posted that the restaurant will be serving again this fall. 

DD opened in the fall of 2016 and received favorable press for its gigantic soup dumplings created by the mother-son team here. 

A look at Drunken Dumpling, now open on 1st Avenue

Drunken Dumpling is now open at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Grub Street checks out the 11-item menu and talks with owner Yuan Li.

Li’s real secret weapon, though, is his mom, Qihui Guan, a mathematics professor and amateur cook turned professional dumpling-maker. When she emigrated to the United States 15 years ago and couldn’t find work in her chosen field, Guan’s hobby became her profession, leading to a position at soup-dumpling dynasty Joe’s Shanghai.

As for the "Drunken," Li says that in this case "the term alludes to the juiciness of the dumplings." A monster soup dumpling called the XL XLB is served with a straw.

Drunken Dumpling coming soon to 1st Avenue

We have a signage reveal at 137 First Ave., where Drunken Dumpling is opening soon between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...



The Drunken Dumpling proprietors are seeking a beer-wine license, and are on this month's CB3 SLA docket (that meeting notice has not been posted at the CB3 website as of this morning)...



This space was last home to Le Marécage, a nice little place that could only hang on for 10 months.