Rickshaw Dumpling Responds to the Haters
Following yesterdays post about Rickshaw Dumpling Bar possibly opening a Midtown location (and the subsequent complaints that followed), part owner Kenny Lao responded in the comments:
“Hey Guys:
It’s Kenny, Anita’s partner from Rickshaw. Zach, thank you for all of the shout outs regarding the truck. This is my first response to comments on a blog, but I thought I would put in my two cents. I hope I don’t get too ripped up!
Yes, the rent was very high as Anita said on 8th Street and while rents in midtown are pricey, the combination of (1.) our goal of doing a smaller store, (2.) the softening of the real estate market and (3.) a high density of people that support our truck in midtown makes us really want to put in a brick and mortar store up there.
Regarding the truck: we would love to be in midtown all week long, and indeed being on 52nd and Lex on Tuesdays and 45th and 6th on Fridays is very busy (thanks for showing the dumpling love!) but with only one truck (so far!) we like cruising around the city and going to spots that people suggest we should try (email us new spots!) and potentially also using the truck to figure out where we can put new shops.”
And what about the whole Chinatown comparison?
And to the people that do think we are pricey compared to Chinatown, I want to remind them that by locating in the spots we do for customer convenience (23rd Street) we have higher rent costs compared to Chinatown which may be a bit difficult for most customers to get to, and I think we do have great dumplings with awesome recipes by our chef, Anita Lo and we use great ingredients that you may not find down in Chinatown. It really is what’s inside that counts thus we use Bell and Evan’s chicken, locally grown Hudson Valley duck and organic edamame in our dumplings.
Thanks [to Midtown Lunch] for creating a great forum and see you on the truck!”
Well, that settles that.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:00 am, February 19th, 2009 under Rickshaw Dumpling Cart.
30 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
30 Comments
-
-
@ Jake–I wasn’t being facetious at all….they really were sickening to me! My girlfriend as well! NASTY!!! NASTY FOOD! EVERY take out place I’ve ever tried EVER has produced a better dumpling than I had at rikshaw. They top my “how the hell do you screw up a dumpling list!!!”
-
I think it’s all about expectations. With the proliferation of those 5 for a $1 dumpling joints in Chinatown, people expect dumplings to be cheap. Hell, a lot of people have this misconceived notion that Chinese food has to be cheap. If it isn’t, then it’s some overpriced gringo-Chinese restaurant like Shun Lee. There are some pricey “authentic” fine dining restaurants in China and Hong Kong. I don’t see a problem with charging more for dumplings if it’s worth it.
I’ve been to Rickshaw on 23rd a few times and have eaten at many of those 4 or 5 for $1 joints as well. Comparing those two are like comparing apples to oranges. They are totally different animals. That said, I do think the prices for Rickshaw are a bit high for what they’re offering. Believe me, I know that Bell and Evans chicken is expensive. I know that your rents are more expensive. But if it’s in a truck, wouldn’t their overhead be a lot less? Knock off a couple of dollars an order, and I don’t think you’ll have as many people complaining.
-
Dang, I didn’t mean to be one of the haters in the last post. Anyway I agree with Boo. I think it’s at least my perception that dumplings are supposed to be dirt cheap. My co-workers don’t know any better so they eat at Rickshaw. It’s like how I refuse to get scrambled eggs at the City Bakery salad bar at $13-14/lb. My gf wanted to get an apple. Imagine how much that would have cost. It could have been a really awesome apple though. …Good thing I didn’t drink before I came to NY. I didn’t know any better when I was paying $4-7 for a Bud Light.
I think Rickshaw will do alright in Midtown –super packed when it opens. Not many people are going jump on the train to Chinatown for lunch.
-
Fact- Rick’s are melamine free.
-
I *like* melamine in my dumplings! Gives them a good ‘mouthfeel’ and a slight nutty undertone.
-
Where is it written that dumplings should be pennies each? I cannot make dumplings for myself at home for pennies each! So, how is it done in chinatown? I’ll tell you: questionable food, exploiting foreign workers, and not paying taxes.
Please, think about where your money is going when you buy lunch. Support companies that pay a living wage to their workers and pay the taxes that provide the government services we all need in these tough times.
Boycott companies like Saigon Grill that do the opposite, exploiting workers and cheating on their taxes. Saigon Grill paid workers “well below the minimum wage, in some cases less than $2.00 an hour, and did not receive overtime compensation for workweeks that lasted as long as 80 hours.” It is a disgrace that this is happening in NYC.
What we should be watching as a group is who is contributing legitimate restaurants to the community. I am all for anyone who can make some money for themselves by meeting a market need and honestly and fairly running a business that protects the rights of its workers and gives something (at the very least in the form of taxes) back to the community.
If Lo and Lau can make a go of it in midtown, more power to them. I may not eat there because I am on a tight budget, but I’d sooner go there than Chinatown. If you like the price, eat there. If you don’t don’t. But please think about what you are supporting before you buy 5 for $1 dumplings.
-
You miss the point RJ. What the commenters are saying is that all things considered Rickshaw does not make a delicious dumpling. And that is the motivating factor. If it was awesome and delicious hell yeah they would pay more!!
That said..mummmm Saigon Grill on the UWS is so damn good! They’ve resolved their legal battles and by default prices have gone up a bit. But their dumplings are so good. It’s a thin delicate wrapper filled with meat or veggies. Truly mouth watering. Also the lunch specials are still cheap and their noodles make me drool. Boycott all you want R.J.. those of us with good taste will eat it all those wonderful meals for you.
-
I am a BIG Fan of the Dumpling Truck! I know they are a bit pricey but they are delicous. The edamame dumpling and chicken and basil dumpling are fresh and delicous and the sauces are a perfect match to each variety, not just something out of a bottle. The salad has great crunchy pea shoots and is always fresh.
When I taste other dumplings, after a bite I am always wondering what exactly I am eating… and some times the dumpling skin is more like dough which is just not right…
I say add another truck! A salad and dumpling lunch is a nice light meal for $9. Yes it is pricey, but you can taste the fresh, quality ingredients and enjoy…
Lo and Lau – you inspire me to try and make fresh dumplings at home…
-
I got out of a 2 hour meeting today around 1pm and needed something quick and right by my office at 57th & 8th. Not much in terms of dumplings around there. I got the Thai chicken and basil dumpling with spicy peanut dipping sauce from RBD and really enjoyed it. I’m not crazy about paying $6 for 6 dumplings, but will under the right circumstances. More details here: http://tinyurl.com/rickshaw-dumplings
First time I tried RBD, wasn’t too impressed, but some time later, enjoyed the shrimp dumplings, and today the Thai chicken dumplings.
Never liked Rickshaw’s. Had the Peking Duck and some pork dumpling a few years ago with salads. I think it was like $16 bucks. Salad was good but I’m a sucker for citrus. Needless to say, I never went back. It’s true what they say, first impressions are really important.
They didn’t even do the Peking Duck dumpling right. How hard is it to put together some maltose glazed duck, duck cracklings, plum sauce, cucumbers and scallions?
And you need to employ some economies of scale. Drive the prices down and drive up the sales volume (like double dumplings and free poland spring would be a good start.) That way you also increase the perceived value.