Vanessa's Dumplings 118 Eldridge St, New York 10002 http://tinyurl.com/ygkjxcu

There is something to say about the incredible range in cost of nearly everything in New York: at one bar you can down a shot and a beer for five bucks then travel no further than the other side of the street and pay six for the same beer you just had, minus the shot. I know places that will run you no more than four dollars for a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, and home fries with coffee and other places that will offer pretty much the same for no less than $10. Of course some can argue quality, décor, location but frankly there are just some places which – though yes you may not have the cleanest table when you sit nor hip wall art or soundtrack accompanying your eating or drinking experience – provide you with unique, comforting, and affordable outings. These places often can make you fall in love and leave you embattled as to whether to share them with the whole world, or keep them close so the secret doesn’t get out.

One such place is Vanessa’s Dumpling House at 118 Eldridge St in the Lower East Side. HYPERLINK "http://tinyurl.com/ygkjxcu" http://tinyurl.com/ygkjxcu . After my regular dumpling spot closed this summer, I was left emotionally void and hungry looking for a new place to get my fix. Luckily, Vanessa’s is a step up from my last spot. It is spacious with a clean, open kitchen, a larger more diverse menu, and so far I have had no issue finding an open seat (though there are times when this could be a problem).

Here is what makes Vanessa's Dumpling house stand out: price. Four pork dumplings run you one dollar and, on average, soups are three dollars. I have become a big fan of the Sesame Pancake Sandwiches, somewhat similar to the Vietnamese Bahn Mi which run around two dollars. Out of 46 items on the menu (not including the bulk take home frozen dumplings), the most expensive thing stands alone at five dollars while the average price is around three dollars.

I can go and for about $3.75 get 4 pork dumplings, a Sesame Pancake Sandwich stuffed with vegetables, and a small hot and sour soup. All of which are incredibly delicious, clean, and filling. Its fast food but there is nothing sterile or plastic about the experience (well, they do use Styrofoam and plastic containers which I’m not all that psyched about but at least recycling is an option). Ordering is easy and quick and typically you wait only five to ten minutes to receive your food. Part of the pleasure, though, is watching the open kitchen as you wait. With ease the many cooks tame gigantic shallow pots filled with dumplings, multiple boilers of noodles, and giant bowls of filling.

Vanessa’s Dumpling house is always bustling but never so crowded that you can’t find a seat or at least find some sort of eating space. Along with hot and cold entrees, they offer a large assortment of beverages including hot and cold teas, smoothies, and bubble teas. They also offer catering and wholesale. I have only dined at The Location on Eldridge Street but you can find another Vanessa’s at 220 14th Street.

-W. Flynn