Eton Too

I came on here to write a review only to find out that they closed a few days ago. I can’t believe it! They had it all-​great dumplings, great prices, and great service (both at their establishment and for delivery). Their pulled pork soup was to die for, and all of their specials and sides were equally as tasty. Why did they close? Hopefully, so they could open a new location even closer to my apartment…

If I were reviewing just the shaved ice this would be more of a 3.5, but I also had dumplings and they were pretty bad. First they were all out of every single food item containing meat, on a Saturday afternoon, i.e. pork dumplings, chicken and mushroom dumplings, all steam buns. Since I wanted a quick salty snack before I devoured some shaved ice I decided to try the vegetable dumplings which consisted of lentils and clear glass noodles. There is nothing binding the filling together so as soon as you bite into the dumplings the lentils practically poor out. There was very little glass noodles in the dumplings (I really only saw one with any in it), and 3 out of the 5 dumplings were already torn before I could even bite into it. I thought it wasn’t very nice of them to present the dumplings so nicely only for me to pick it up and see there was no bottom to most of the dumplings. Lentils were everywhere except my mouth! Lol!
The shaved ice was really good but it would be pretty difficult to mess up shaved ice. I have never been to Hawaii so I can’t speak for its authenticity. I was disappointed however that there were very little flavors available especially the two that I really wanted which were tamarind and passion fruit (my favorite juices!!!). Sensing my disappointment the gentlemen working there advised me to try there P.O.G (Pineapple, orange, guava) flavor so I gave it a shot since I didn’t want grape or any other flavor that would leave me with a funky colored mouth lol! It was pretty good, but sure doesn’t beat the taste of tamarind or passion fruit. That would have been amazing.
Pros:
Friendly service
Hawaiian shaved Ice
Cons:
Closing in a few days (July 23^rd)
Dumplings (specifically the vegetable ones)

This place is great. I found the dumplings to be soft in the inside and slightly crunchy on the outside. I like how the dough isn’t overwhelming and it was the perfect balance between dough and meat. They are not as oily in comparison to other dumplings I had which is a good thing. Seriously the dumplings are a must try here. Sure you can find dumplings cheaper elsewhere but here it is just so perfect, so why not try it?
In addition I like how you can order dessert right after. Oh my gosh the Hawaiian ice here is good. Two of my friends and I shared one and we just had to order another one. The guava, watermelon, and raspberry is really tasty. Don’t forget to get the icy treat with ice cream at the bottom or it is just not complete.
I’m so sad that this place is closing in a couple of weeks when I just tried it out for the first time. So all you foodies out there try it before it is too late!
Note: the place is really small. Probably it can fit about 10 people at most. Also dumplings do not come right away so it takes about a couple of minutes so order a good amount and get it all at once

If you’re looking for authentic Hawaiian shaved ice, this is definitely the closest you’ll get. They don’t have the fried coconut shavings which was a little disappointing (for those who traveled from Maui). However, for those who never tried Hawaiian shaved ice, you must get the flavors in combo with the ice cream scoop or it really won’t taste special.
The chicken mushroom dumpling was extremely mind blowing! It was incredibly flavorful and the skin was a perfect balance of crispy and soft. One of those you «must» get if you ever go here.
Sadly this store is closing July 23^rd so hurry and try these items before it’s too late :(

Walked in to this tiiiiiny place that can seat about five. The cook/​worker/​server was so lax that he seemed totally undisturbed when he messed up our order in three different ways. Its an awkward spot cuz u feel like you’re right in someone’s kitchen. They have no beverages other than bubble tea. The one decent thing is that the actual dumplings, which take about 15 minutes to make, werent bad. Nothing in this place will make me a return customer.

I love love this little corner off Smith St. We had dumplings, both veggie and chicken shitake– which were positively delicious! We also tried their pulled pork and teriyaki chicken buns– yum on top of yum. Definitely gonna be back a few times!

So last week, I’m in Flushing, and I enjoy a $ 2 shave ice. I taste it and am puzzled as to why there should be something so excellent about which I know nothing. It isn’t the ingredients so much as the way the red bean, taro, and condensed milk retain their flavors while at the same time blend to make new ones. I had found my new favorite food.
I was so happy to find a shave ice place in my neck of the woods. I immediately set off to buy two, one for me, and one for a friend. I told the server that the ices were to be transported. They were put into small (the $ 4 size) squat plastic cups that looked like they were going to turn over in the car. They did. But after wetting my seats (car’s and pants’), there was still enough to taste. It tasted like any other snow cone with too sugary syrup you’ve ever had, and if there were any condensed milk, it didn’t show itself.
Shave ice is a wonderful treat. But you won’t find it at Eton Too. Go to Flushing!

Four stars mainly because I’m a homesick Californian and Hawaiian food reminds me of home. Where else in New York can you find spam musubi? No really, where? I can’t get enough. Eton makes a nice spam musubi, the perfect little snack for $ 3. If you don’t know what spam musubi is, it’s a very simple and amazing sort of spam sushi. If you don’t know what spam is, well, I feel sorry for you (just Google it — or don’t, it’s not really made from quality or identifiable ingredients…)
We had pretty much one of each kind of dumpling and these were actually really good, even compared to Chinatown standards. We had the BBQ pulled pork also and this was just okay — without the side sauces, it would have been much too dry.
Honestly I don’t know why I haven’t tried the Hawaiian shaved ice yet, especially in the dead of summer. It’s on my to-​do list for sure, and quick, because now it’s starting to cool down.
So the answer is, yes, I will certainly be back, even though the owner is from Chicago so this place loses some Hawaiian credibility points for me. I can look past that.

Certified Shave Ice of Brooklyn !! (This is better and bigger than any slurpee or that street cart with a slab of ice)

Delicious shave ice. My whole family was standing in a circle eating from my cup, and there was enough to go around.

Nommy dumplings. Who doesn’t love little nuggets of pork nestled in snappy wrappers? If you don’t love them, you should go ahead and kill yourself right now because you don’t deserve to live.
The noodle soups don’t come with enough broth, but I’m whiny like that. I like soupy soup and not «stoup» as that idiot Rachael Ray calls it.

The dumplings rock! Yes you might have to wait a while but it’s worth it. Get the sampler if you can’t decide! They’re all winners!
And Eton is awesome!!! Best dumplings I’ve had.

I have to laugh at people who complain that cheaper food exists three miles away. It’s like complaining that you can find cheaper beverages at the grocery store.
I miss the original Henry St. location, but either way this is a great addition to the neighborhood. Fresh dumplings. Shave ice, which I don’t think any other place makes. A house soy sauce, a plum sauce, and a ginger vinegar. Three kinds of dumplings and rotating special dumplings.
Downsides:
I do think this location became a little more inconsistent when Eton was busy opening the Prospect Heights shop, but overall this place does a good job, and I’ve seen Eton helping out with deliveries etc. since then.
The wait can feel a little long if they get too busy – it’s not really designed to be a super high volume shop, and it can be easy to forget that dumplings are not fast food. They make their dumplings to order, and even at the Chinatown joints that crank out huge batches, you’ll have a wait if you show up right after a big rush. They’ve always been very good at giving a heads up if there’s going to be a wait.
Lastly, dumplings are not the perfect food to have delivered. The best thing is to pick them up yourself if you live close by. Still, I’ve gotten them delivered tons of times and rarely had any issues.

I claim OG status here. I have been a fan & frequent patron of Eton, in all it’s incarnations from the start, at the original shop further down Sackett. While there is something inherently erratic about the place, that is very much a part of its unique charm. That inherently erratic nature is reflected in its volatile history, which has consisted of waves of expansion and subsequent regression. The original large Sackett location suddenly & unexpectedly closed due to a dispute with the landlord and all of the operations moved to this tiny space, which had recently been opened as a smaller outpost. A few years later yet another branch opened, this one in a large spiffy space on Vanderbilt in prospect heights, featuring a menu that was significantly more expansive and ambitious. That branch however closed within a year of opening and now this little nook is again the sole location and default flagship. On a positive note however I have seen the frozen dumplings offered in a good amount of stores and supermarkets around the borough.
Those Dumplings are the star of the show for me, and they are the best to be found in the borough. It seems that they’ve pretty much scaled back to there most basic varieties for the most part; pork & beef (my personal favorite), chicken & mushroom, and vegetable, although the menu does claim to offer an occasional special dumpling. I personally really miss the frequent specials offered at the original location, like Italian sausage an pepper dumplings, as well as the premium dumplings offered at the aforementioned short lived prospect heights branch which included crab Rangoon, and shrimp with cilantro, but apparently they were not working out for the place nowadays. Anyway, which ever are offered are sure to be delicious and worth the 15 minute wait as they are all made fresh when ordered, and even with the price being raised to 4 bucks now from the prior 3.50, still a good deal.
Also real good and real cheap are the bao sliders, especially the pulled pork ones. My girlfriend loves the bubble teas, the amount of flavors offered seems to fluctuate randomly. The shaved Ices also have a dedicated fan base, & are supposedly very authentic versions of the type found in Hawaii. The place has a great ramshackle charm that is very indicative of the spirit of the establishment and the owner who’s name it shares.

Gnarly place for Hawaiian shaved ice fanatics who have visited Matsumoto’s once, and have acknowledged the fact that they will never be returning to Hawaii. Instead, drown your sorrows with a refreshing Gowanus Shaved Ice. Just look at all those flavors: passion fruit, mango, cotton candy, pineapple, creamsicle… yadda yadda.
You will thank me for the purple tongue.
Every year I’m asked, «What do you want for your birthday.» To which I reply with the common guy response, «Nothing.»
Not this year.. This year I want one of those high powered ice shavers that could cut off the horns of a ram. I would plug that baby in and just carve up pristine cylinders of ice into pyramids, while I sit indian style on the kitchen floor with my bathing suit on eating it with a serving spoon.
When I’m not having an ice dream, I like to sit on the bench outside and eat my ice rather sloppily from excitement, while it splashes all over my fresh white tee. Maybe you prefer a more romantic eating experience. Maybe a stroll of sorts. Well, you’re in luck because the always breathtaking Gowanus Canal is a beautiful setting to relax and watch the sunset– much prettier than the North Shore of Oahu. The colors of the water are majestic.

It pains me to give Eton Too a 3-​star rating. I’ve been going there since it was called, «Eton» (not «Eton Too») and was on Sackett off Henry (not off Smith). A couple of years ago, I would have given this place a 5-​star rating.
I used to rave about this place to anyone and everyone. However, as R.M. noted, they can’t seem to get their acts together about delivering food. Their menu is not extensive so how hard can it be to make sure that there are sides of salad dressing and the requested dumplings sauces when you deliver the order? And, yes, if I order a drink and have to pay for it, regardless, because of the minimum order required and you forgot it, you’re damn right you need go get it and deliver it to me. (Oh, and please pick up the sauces you forgot, while you’re at it.)
The last time I ordered, I waited an hour in my apartment — an hour! — and when I called them they had the nerve to tell me that the delivery person had been to my apartment and rang the buzzer but that I didn’t answer. Hate to say it people, but he either went to the wrong building/​apartment or he’s a LIAR. I have a buzzer that’s so loud, it would wake the dead — he didn’t ring it. PERIOD. Instead of offering to fix the problem, the woman on the phone with me who takes the orders and the delivery guy in the background started raising their voices to me and kept insisting that I was wrong (even though the woman on the phone would have no idea whether the delivery guy had actually been to my apartment — she didn’t go on the delivery with him).
They finally offered to make one last batch of dumplings for me (they were closing up). My instincts told me to decline but I was starving and most other places had closed. A different guy delivered the order and didn’t charge me. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I got sick when I ate the dumplings. (They probably rolled the dumplings around the floor before cooking them). For days, I wanted to call the owner — I was so angry, but I don’t think he’s ever in the shop on Sackett (at least I never see him there when I pick up my order).
The owner needs to spend more time in his shop and training his employees (and/​or implementing some procedures — this is basic stuff). In the future, I’m either going to pick up my food or I’m not going to go here any more. It’s really too bad.

Is there anything better than a quick, cheap, porky snack? That’s a negative, Ghostrider.
Next time you’re a bit hungry between meals, or after them because your girlfriend dragged you to a vegetarian joint, go get yourself an Eton bao stuffed to the brim with pulled pork. Seriously, at $ 2, I didn’t expect so much porky deliciousness. In fact, I could’ve used a bit more sauce for all that pork.
And I must say, the five minute wait for said porky delight would’ve been delightful itself, had their not been some sort of incessant, piercing beeping sound emanating from the air conditioner. I would’ve sat out there all day, because let’s face it, wicker rocks. Not literally. Although, I would like a wicker rocking chair.
Someone get me one of those.

On a bitterly cold arctic Dec day I plopped in this sliver of a joint right of Smith St in to regain the feeling in my extremities via try their much-​heralded juicy dumplings. I got the beef + pork while my friend went with the Chix + shrooms which are both approx golf ball size-​ish morsels of pippin’ hot goodness. 5 to an order which is plenty or they offer a combo option if sharing which includes all varieties.
The key for the dumplings is pairing up with the right sauces of which I recommend the spicy chili and plum.
But the real winner here is the pork buns, or as they call them sandwiches. These little vessels of flavor come out quickly as opposed to the dumplings which take upwards of 15 minutes so think of them as a nice lil appetizer. 3 for $ 5 is the way to go. Then a couple squirts of Sriracha in addition to their sauce and you’re golden!
Didn’t try their famous Hawaiian shaved ice (see my first sentence) but will come back on a sweltering summer day day to give them a go.
Note: this primarily a take-​out place as there’s only 5 stools closely squished together along one wall so if you’re looking for a comfortable sit-​down experience, this isn’t it.

$ 2 pork sandwich. Satisfyingly messy snack with tender, saucy pulled pork tucked in a soft Asian bun. Better than a popsicle on a hot summer’s day. Bring some buddies (or an appetite) and it’s 3 sandwiches for $ 5!
Next time, I’m checking out the handmade dumplings — unfortunately, no ramen until Fall — I guess that makes sense
Hawaiian shave ice looked full of aloha and tongue dying potential — maybe next time

I don’t know why people are expecting some kind of magical dumplings. (That’s what I got from reading Eton’s reviews) Eton Too’s dumplings are good but how wonderful can dumplings get? I’m also impressed that people trekked from more than a couple blocks away just try these dumplings.
Anyway, I’ve stopped by at Eton Too a couple of times to get the bubble tea which is pretty good and today I picked up some vegetable dumplings as well. They were fresh and good. This place is worth a hop in, if it’s on your way. It isn’t meant for dining in so plan on taking it to go. Pretty cool staff running the joint. I’ve got no complaints and will be coming back for more.

After Eton got a very good review in TONY, and was even featured in their eat out award issue, I got the opportunity to try their dumplings this weekend.
For $ 3.75 you get 5 dumplings. The dumplings, which are freshly made right in front of you, are certainly chubby. They come with their home-​made plum sauce, which is actually pretty good, although rather salty. I particularly liked the pork and cabbage dumplings, while the vegetarian ones had a funky consistency I didn’t like much.
We didn’t try the shaved ice, of which they have ~40 different flavors.
One one hand it is nice to see a place that serve a different kind of food from all the other restaurants in the neighborhood, on the other hand in Chinatown you get more and better tasting dumplings for less.
They could certainly have a few extra drink options.