I was a stop along my grandnephew and his friends’ exploration of the city, right after walking the Brooklyn Bridge. We had some bubbly and nibbles before heading out in the hood for some dim sum at 3 Times in the East Village.

We started with both the spicy pork and the shrimp and pork soup dumplings (6 for $10.95). Before they indulged, I warned them not to just bite into the soup dumplings or they could end up with a scorched tongue.

Ideally, if you have chopsticks, pick up the dumpling by the twisted dough top then and hold it over the Chinese soup spoon while you lift both to your mouth. First, take a small bite of the dumpling and let the broth flow out into the spoon. Then enjoy the dumpling and drink the soup. Google lists over 200,000 videos demonstrating this!

Also good are their Shanghai spring rolls (4 for $ 7.95) and pan-fried pork buns (4 for $9.75), their deep-fried hot & spicy chicken wings ($11.95) and the veggie and pork wontons in chili oil (6 for $8.95).

As I mentioned,  I was only a stop on their discovery of the city. Once we finished eating, the group headed to Old Town Bar for a beer before heading uptown to a speakeasy, then downtown to an escape room. Ah, to be young again.

3 Times
East Village
818 Broadway
New York, NY 10003,