Zeng Xing Fu Zhou

Zheng Xin Fu Zhou is a small eatery located off of Eldridge. Steamed dumplings, noodle dishes, as well as soups are offered here. The hubs and I stopped by for a quick bite, as we had heard about their cheap fare! We shared a plate of noodles with sesame sauce as well as a plate of steamed dumplings. The noodles were a little off, as they were of the packaged form and of a weird texture; the sesame sauce was watered down and did not dress the noodles well. The steamed dumplings were juicy and filled generously with meat and veggies — there are bottles of a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar that complemented the dumplings well. With an entrée, you also receive a complimentary bowl of soup — it was some type of a broth with sliced scallions; I wasn’t a fan, but the hubs was pretty okay with it. Service was friendly, quick, and super efficient; both items only turned out to be $ 5, cash! Limited English is spoken here, so keep that in mind!
+cheap Chinese fare
+cash only

Wondered why no one ever write review about this hidden gem. I have been dining here since 2003. This restaurant is popular among the fuzhou people. Not just the steam dumplings are juicy but super cheap. 10 for $ 3! I always order the flat egg noodle with special peanut sesame breakfast and steam dumplings. Less than $ 5 breakfast will fill me up till late afternoon.
10 dumplings for $ 3
Sesame peanut noodle for $ 2
Flavor: good to excellent
Ambience: don’t trust the restroom
Note: staff do not speak much English. Please don’t expect much.

I have been looking for a good fish balls with pork fillings for a while by taste testing one by one Fuzhou style restaurant, this is it. Try a small bowl (6fish balls) for $ 2 or a large one (12 for $ 3.5) Make sure you get a bag to go as well. Just taste like home!!! The cashier is a grandma look like old lady. I bought some frozen dumplings to go, she is very sweet and she told me how to cook them at home.

For some places in Chinatown, the «C» on the window stands for China. I’ve eaten in some very questionable places in Beijing, and I think only this place rivals that in terms of «What in the hell am I putting in my body?»
It’s way down on Eldridge and in case you ever feel that Prosperity is a little too «American» for you, then walk a few blocks down to this small spot somewhat close to the underpass of the Manhattan Bridge. I tried it one day randomly because it looked intriguing and because there was a «Grade Pending» sticker in the window, which at least made it seem that they were attempting to be safe.
That was probably fourteen months ago that I first went, and I have to say that I’ve been back probably 19 or 20 times.
Their dumplings are very good. For $ 3, you get 10 or 12 of them on a styrofoam plate. You also get a separate small bowl of broth. Their broth isn’t as salty as it should be, but it works very well against the dumplings. The dumplings are the best steamed/​boiled that I’ve had in Manhattan’s Chinatown. I’ve had better dumplings in the city, but not for the price or convenience.
Another big thing is that the food is given to you just about as soon as you take a seat. I don’t know what this means and I don’t want to know.. . but before you can even settle yourself down in a seat and take off you coat, one of their seemingly hundred employees is bringing over your order for you.
Overall, the staff is polite without being hurried or condescending. They always look to me strangely, as if they’re confused to why anyone non-​Chinese would be in their establishment. This always gives me a little laugh. I have never heard English being spoken either by an employees or a fellow guest. You mostly have to point and gesture to get what you want, but I’ve never had a problem with that.
I do have to say that in the last few months, they have received a «C» grade on their health check-​up and if you’re worried about that then I would stay away. I’ve never gotten sick after eating there, but I would be cautious.

2.5 stars.
The dumplings were fine, but nothing special. One of them had their skin broken, which was a bit disappointing. It’s quite a dingy little place however, and the seats are all facing the wall. Their menu is translated to English, however, so there’s no need for me to guess what all the menu items say. Not worth a special visit — I still prefer Shu Jiao Fu Zhou.

So you get off the boat from China, where do you head? Well, first you go to the employment agency (which is right next door), then you go and get some grub in your stomach. Of course you’re probably dirt poor, and that’s where this place comes into play.
We got an order of dumplings, an order of fish balls, and an order of the noodles with maybe. peanut butter on them?
Noodles were eh, the fish balls were a little bit better than eh, but the dumplings were really good. They put some type of oil in there which gave it a little more flavor, different from dumplings I’ve had anywhere else. That is definitely my strongest recommendation here.
Total cost of the whole meal for two people? Maybe $ 8 or $ 9…

It was a cold and windy night, so we decided to pick up something hot and soupy. We popped into Tanxia Wang because it was on the way home. We ordered a large order of dumplings, noodles in peanut butter sauce and the wonton soup to go.
I like that the dumplings here have the thinner skin. And, while the meat mixture was flavorful, I usually like the addition of the vinegary, soy dipping sauce for added oomph. Unfortunately, their dipping sauce is WAY too salty. But, even without the sauce, the dumplings were tasty. We probably should’ve ordered a bag of the frozen ones to take home as well. I could see how that could make for a quick and easy weekday dinner.
Unfortunately, the noodles with peanut butter sauce were bland and unevenly sauced. Even after we mixed the noodles around, we found pockets where the noodles were bare, then deliciously coated pockets of noodles. They also could have used the addition of some finely sliced scallions or a smattering of Chinese celery or cilantro. Honestly, I think these might be better when you’re eating them right on the spot and the sauce doesn’t have time to pool at the bottom of the take-​out container.
But, my favorite was the wonton soup, as I normally like the Fuzhou version. The wonton skins are nearly transparent, with a dab of pork filling. And, with the Fuzhou version, I think it’s really more about the skins than the filling. I could’ve slurped down every single wonton in the bowl, but alas, I was sharing. Next time, I’m getting an order all to myself! hahahah
I’d definitely go back to try some of the other stuff on the menu — especially since our filling dinner for two only cost us a mere $ 7! Outrageous — most days my lunch for one costs more than that…

The best dumplings I’ve had in Chinatown, hands down. Be aware though, the dumplings they have are not potstickers. Rather, they are either boiled or steamed (I’m not really sure). I first tried these when my mom brought home the frozen ones. I’ve fallen in love with them to the point where my mom once bought dumplings from another store, and I demanded the old ones back.
I’ve only been to the store twice, both to buy a small order of dumplings for lunch. I’ve had the beef tendon things too, and they’re really good but I’m not sure what they’re called in Chinese. I don’t usually frequent this part of Chinatown, but this store gives me enough reason to do so.

Thank you Chief H. For had I not read your review, I would not have tried Tanxia Fu Zhou and I would have missed out on some awesome dumplings — perhaps the best in Chinatown!
We took the dumplings to go and all three of us (two gai low and one Chung gua ren) agreed they were delicious. The seats along the wall give the place a foreign feel which I love but it does seem to be a place more for lunch on the run than bring the wife and kids!
The noodles looked great and I am planning to come back soon to find out if they taste as good as they looked!
UPDATE: I have been back several times and brought loads of people with me… so far everyone has loved the dumplings, liked the noodles and were so-​so on the fish ball soup
UPDATE: 3÷26÷15: The lady who yells the orders into the kitchen hurt her back so another family member (who speaks pretty good English) is now at the register. Some worrisome updates — they have a C rating (used to be an A) and the dumplings while still quite good were a bit chewy and now hours later I am still tasting them. Also in order not to raise prices, they give you one less dumpling per order.

Tanxia Wang Fu Zhou Cuisine on Eldrigde, just south of well known hand-​pulled noodle spot Sheng Wang, serves a succinct menu of Fujian classics and is one of the choicest pieces of Chinatown knowledge I’ve acquired in ages (though a friend of mine softened my enthusiasm for it a bit the other day, I’d like to hear what some Chowhounds think of this place).
The dumplings here are the main draw, and they’re brought steaming on styrofoam plates almost as soon as you’ve snagged a seat (sometimes before you’ve even finished ordering). The waitresses speak barely any English, but you can always point at the menu along the long, constantly crowded wall. It’s a busy spot, but turnover is high, so you’re likely to find a seat soon enough.
Back to the dumplings. They’re filled with copious greens mixed in loosely amidst slightly sweet, ground pork. With just a bit of grease-​enough to coat your mouth, alerting you to the presence of fatty pork juice-​these dumpling don’t easily wear out their welcome. The dumpling skin (likely a commercial wrapper), is just thin enough and more than up to the task. At just $ 9 for a bag of 50, it’s worth bringing some home.
The wonton soup is almost as good. A drop of finely ground pork is centered around a thin, almost diaphanous, ripple of dumpling skin. (Diaphanous was my eating companion’s word, not mine. I could only figure it out in context and am slightly embarrassed to admit I had to look up the actual definition.)
Peanut butter noodles (I think these are called gan mian, but correct me if I’m wrong) can be a whole meal by themselves. Bland without any additions, they’re best when doused in Sriracha and thick soy sauce.
Pork balls looked vaguely testicular. They can be a little greasy, but they complement the thick broth so well that all is forgiven.
Fish balls filled with ground pork, with their slippery texture, are a chopstick workout. A slightly porkier version of gefilte fish. The broth, lighter than the one served with the pork balls, was just as good.
Significantly, this place is Dirt Fucking Cheap. A meal for two, including two bowls of soup, a plate of noodles and eight dumplings will only run you around $ 9. It’s seriously impossible to spend more than $ 10 here (well, maybe you could get a drink). Check it out. You won’t be sorry.