New York

Even New Yorkers get sick of pizza occasionally. But Dumpling House in Chinatown has the perfect remedy. Their sesame pancake is the same size and shape as a slice of pizza, but it’s only $1.50—try finding a slice at that price these days. Plus, it’s far more filling. In the same wok they use to cook up their tasty pork dumplings (five for a buck), they fry up a giant, doughy pancake until it turns a light brown. When it emerges from the oil, it’s piping hot and ready to be sliced into eighths just like a pizza. Then each slice, half-coated in sesame seeds, is itself sliced open from tip to edge so as to expose the steaming core. The sandwich is then stuffed thick with pot roast or tuna salad as well as cilantro and pickled carrots that come out of Tupperware containers on the counter. All the ingredients heat up quickly once the pancake is closed back up. Along with soy and hot sauce, a sesame pancake with beef or tuna from the Dumpling House can be even tastier than a reliable slice of pizza.

Photo:  David Freedenberg