3. Tri Dim West
Of the spots on our Upper West Side dumpling tour, Tri Dim West is the glitziest. Around the corner from the American Museum of Natural History, the restaurant opened in 2018 as an outpost of the Upper East Side’s Tri Dim Shanghai. Patrons sit in high-backed black leather chairs and the glow of blue accent lighting. The menu, featuring braised short ribs and whole Chilean bass, easily accommodates special occasions. Eaters of more modest means, however, can still enjoy a satisfying meal and attentive service at Tri Dim West. The staff dotes equally on customers who spend less than $20 on dumplings and those who splurge on the $52 whole Peking duck.
Given that Tri Dim West specializes in Shanghainese cuisine, the dumplings to try here are the ones for which the city is famous. That means that soup dumplings should make another appearance on your table. This time, order the crab and pork variety and prepare yourself for a robust dumpling bursting with an intensely flavored broth that leans on sugar and vinegar more than most. Get the succulent Shanghai shumai as well. A breakfast favorite in the coastal city, the conical dumplings are filled with creamy sticky rice laced with ground pork, ginger and soy.
Tri Dim West is located at 467 Columbus Ave. Manhattan, NY 10024
