Sad to see that this place closed but it was a great place that's pretty hidden within the East Village. If I hadn't found it on Instagram, I probably would've never had the chance to eat here. Upon arriving, I was very impressed by the decor as the restaurant had lots of plants set up that made it look great & they were decorated over the windows. I ordered the Beef Noodle Soup & shared the soup dumpling, which was the reason why we visited. Both definitely lived up to par and serving sizes were worth the prices. The food also came in a timely manner as well.
Tiffany Simon
Cute neighborhood spot with great dim sum and delicious "magical" chicken.
Kaitlin D.
Definitely a place to check out! Came here with a friend for dinner and we left not disappointed and FULL. The ambiance is pretty chill, and laid back. We ordered: Thai Style chicken wings Pork fried rice General tso Soup dumplings Pork & veggie dumplings For someone who can eat soup dumplings every day of the week, and super particular with my soup dumplings. This was probably on my top list of soup dumplings. Hands down. *no photo shown because we were savages and just ate them right away! Aside from that, everything else was delicious and fresh! Their staff was super friendly and attentive. We ordered wine and beer. It was those type of nights! I would totally recommend if you're looking for a good spot for dinner after work, or on the weekends.
Sophie H.
I really wanted to love you, I miss Taiwan food when I'm not in Taiwan like crazy and being Nyc lacks good Taiwan food options I bookmark every single Taiwanish establishment that opens. Interior is so cute , I love the drake reference lights on the wall, service was very friendly. Prices are double to triple what you get in flushing or Chinatown and the dimsum is worth it. The pork soup dumplings were so good. Better than any I've had in Nyc. Shu mai with fish roe was delish and fresh tasting too you can taste the pork and shrimp in both bites. The angry pig feet was marinated just right with a hint of a kick, friends liked it but I was put off by all the hairs still on the skin. The Taiwanese need noodle soup tasted like chili oil in hot water. The beef was too big but tender. Would not order that again.
Emi B.
I remembered I love the original Carma on the west side, which has been closed for a while. I'd expect Carma East would be the same but sadly it wasn't anymore. They used to have almost true Taiwanese flavor beef noodle soup, it's no longer the case. It's just a okay bowl of noodle soup now. Soup dumplings and steamed dumplings skin are very thick.... Also we're fine for the flavor but no longer the same level of quality. Wonton in chili oil was also not good, it's not in chili, the skin also really thick like those Chinese deli take out on the street.
Molly K.
Why does every casual restaurant these days have to be absolutely *lined* with gigantic flat screen TVs? It's unbearable. This place has pretty much no seat whose view is not a football game or spectrum news channel. It's the most tv-dominated business I've ever seen outside of Best Buy. Makes it awful for dining with kids, who are immediately zombies. Otherwise: Adequate. The food is fine, though the menu is kind of small. The service is a little distracted. I just wish they would remove these terrible televisions!!!!
J Liu
Cute spot but it's just okay. The restaurant had a lot going on. Seems like a bar with the bar and high stool seating for the communal area. It had TVs hanging on every wall. Then there are dine in seating.
Jessica Lee
Very trendy taiwanese/chinese restaurant in alphabet city. The ambiance is something your basic millennial would enjoy. It was also pretty busy last Friday night when my friend and I visited. By 6:30 pm, the place was half full with the rest of the tables reserved. We ended up getting a two person table for an hour the server told us... Luckily we had a small meal already before coming and was looking for another small bite so the time "limit" was fine with us.
Lauren C.
Enjoyed the soup dumplings a lot and the beef noodle soup was very good. Wished there was more since I really liked it , but it's a good city size portion. Very yummy!
Margaux C.
Not worth it at all. I really thought this would be better based on the pictures on the Yelp page for this restaurant. The shumai only had rice in it. I was a disappointed, as I could not taste any shrimp or pork here. The pork soup dumplings tasted like they were store-bought, frozen type of dumplings. Tasted like the run of the mill chain dumpling restaurant like Din Tai Fung. No need to come try this place in NY when you can just get this at your local Din Tai Fung in LA. The chinese broccoli also was not good. Not cooked enough (too crunchy), and no taste. Usually dim sum restaurants are pretty good at adding that garlic sauce that makes all the difference on the broccoli. Not here though...even the veggies were bad. The ambiance was cute and waiters were nice, but not worth coming back, seriously, save your money. Go to Tian Jin Dumpling in Flushing if you want to be blown away by delicious Chinese dumplings for a fraction of this price (see my review of Tian Jin Dumpling from last year). Never coming back to Carma East.
I thought this dim sum bar was just a dim sum place. But it was actually a dim sum bar -- and a very clean, nice one indeed. Since it was partially a bar, and therefore a less authentic dim sum place, I was expecting average dumplings/shumai. But boy was I impressed! The sticky rice dumplings were spot on, and so were the pork soup dumplings (XLB). Also, the hulk fried rice sounds like an American abomination. But our wonderful waitress explained (without us asking -- we're not that aggressive) that the "hulk" fried rice is green, naturally, because the rice is cooked with veggies from the beginning (hence the "mixed" flavor is the most natural, as opposed to chicken-only or shrimp-only). I generally try to tip between 0-30%, aiming for a median of 15-20%. Today, I tipped over 25%, because our waitress was an absolutely joyful guide into this impressive dim sum gem in East Village.
Ha Nguyen
Good food and good service. The price is actually very reasonable.
Andrew Bowles
Creative menu... but very bland flavors and overpriced. Chicken seemed frozen, noodles were from a box, spicy dishes were mild, etc. Wouldn't go again.
Jen C.
They play sports all week, have their drink menu on the big tv screen, and have beer on tap!!! This place has such friendly staff and fun food to eat. Their food is not strictly Taiwanese like some people think. It's a blend of different Asian food fare. The soup dumplings are really yum and I really enjoy their Taiwanese crispy chicken and scallion pancakes. The hulk fried rice is awesome and the rice is naturally dyed green with vegetables. I love everything about this place.
Michael T.
If you have EVER had Taiwanese food before, please stay away from this restaurant because you will only leave majorly disappointed. It has been a while since I have have had such a poor dining experience. Although a bit understaffed, the waitresses were polite and efficient for the most part so this has nothing to do with the service. The food, however, was absolutely atrocious. I wish I were exaggerating but I have never had a more disappointing meal. The restaurant clearly put too much focus on their presentation and ambiance when they should have put their focus on the one thing that matters most as a restaurant, which is their food. Beyond being a disgrace to Taiwanese food, I would simply advise them to just change their entire restaurant cuisine since they have absolutely no idea how to serve or cook Taiwanese food. My friends and I ordered a total of 5 orders of Pork Soup Dumpling, 4 orders of Hulk Fried Rice with Chicken, 2 orders of Taiwanese Crispy Chicken, and 1 order of Authentic Taiwanese Beef Soup Noodles. The pork soup dumplings were made very poorly as if they had just been brought out of the microwave. The vinegar topping for the soup dumplings had to be specially requested and would come without a spoon upon arrival. Opposed to EVERY OTHER Taiwanese restaurant in the world, Carma East expected us to use chopsticks to retrieve our soup dumplings instead of the metal claw made specifically for soup dumplings. The metal claw is designed to pick up soup dumplings without them popping. Besides the soup dumplings tasting like they came straight out of the microwave, their failure to properly serve them just goes to show that Carma East has no experience with Taiwanese food. Soup dumpling is one of the core dishes of the cuisine, if you can't even get that right then, it's time to go back to the drawing board possibly rebrand your business. The "Authentic" Taiwanese Beef Soup Noodles was very far from being authentic and was probably the most disgraceful item we ordered. The broth tasted like water with added chili pepper, the beef (like the soup dumplings) tasted like they had just came out of the fridge and had absolutely no flavor. Without a doubt THE worst beef noodle soup I have ever had. The Taiwanese grilled chicken was decent tasting and was sadly probably the best item we ordered. The Hulk Fried Rice was not only very small portioned, it was also infused with way too much ginger which they failed to put in their description on the menu. In the end, my friends and I were able to finish the soup dumplings and Taiwanese fried Chicken but left most of the other food completely untouched. I know this all sounds very harsh but I am just that disappointed in this meal. The ambiance and presentation of the overall restaurant is relatively modern and fun. That's why it is with sincere honesty when I say that it would be a good idea to rebrand and change the entire cuisine of the restaurant to something you guys are more familiar with because the "Taiwanese" food is just simply unacceptable.
Sad to see that this place closed but it was a great place that's pretty hidden within the East Village. If I hadn't found it on Instagram, I probably would've never had the chance to eat here. Upon arriving, I was very impressed by the decor as the restaurant had lots of plants set up that made it look great & they were decorated over the windows. I ordered the Beef Noodle Soup & shared the soup dumpling, which was the reason why we visited. Both definitely lived up to par and serving sizes were worth the prices. The food also came in a timely manner as well.
Cute neighborhood spot with great dim sum and delicious "magical" chicken.
Definitely a place to check out! Came here with a friend for dinner and we left not disappointed and FULL. The ambiance is pretty chill, and laid back. We ordered: Thai Style chicken wings Pork fried rice General tso Soup dumplings Pork & veggie dumplings For someone who can eat soup dumplings every day of the week, and super particular with my soup dumplings. This was probably on my top list of soup dumplings. Hands down. *no photo shown because we were savages and just ate them right away! Aside from that, everything else was delicious and fresh! Their staff was super friendly and attentive. We ordered wine and beer. It was those type of nights! I would totally recommend if you're looking for a good spot for dinner after work, or on the weekends.
I really wanted to love you, I miss Taiwan food when I'm not in Taiwan like crazy and being Nyc lacks good Taiwan food options I bookmark every single Taiwanish establishment that opens. Interior is so cute , I love the drake reference lights on the wall, service was very friendly. Prices are double to triple what you get in flushing or Chinatown and the dimsum is worth it. The pork soup dumplings were so good. Better than any I've had in Nyc. Shu mai with fish roe was delish and fresh tasting too you can taste the pork and shrimp in both bites. The angry pig feet was marinated just right with a hint of a kick, friends liked it but I was put off by all the hairs still on the skin. The Taiwanese need noodle soup tasted like chili oil in hot water. The beef was too big but tender. Would not order that again.
I remembered I love the original Carma on the west side, which has been closed for a while. I'd expect Carma East would be the same but sadly it wasn't anymore. They used to have almost true Taiwanese flavor beef noodle soup, it's no longer the case. It's just a okay bowl of noodle soup now. Soup dumplings and steamed dumplings skin are very thick.... Also we're fine for the flavor but no longer the same level of quality. Wonton in chili oil was also not good, it's not in chili, the skin also really thick like those Chinese deli take out on the street.
Why does every casual restaurant these days have to be absolutely *lined* with gigantic flat screen TVs? It's unbearable. This place has pretty much no seat whose view is not a football game or spectrum news channel. It's the most tv-dominated business I've ever seen outside of Best Buy. Makes it awful for dining with kids, who are immediately zombies. Otherwise: Adequate. The food is fine, though the menu is kind of small. The service is a little distracted. I just wish they would remove these terrible televisions!!!!
Cute spot but it's just okay. The restaurant had a lot going on. Seems like a bar with the bar and high stool seating for the communal area. It had TVs hanging on every wall. Then there are dine in seating.
Very trendy taiwanese/chinese restaurant in alphabet city. The ambiance is something your basic millennial would enjoy. It was also pretty busy last Friday night when my friend and I visited. By 6:30 pm, the place was half full with the rest of the tables reserved. We ended up getting a two person table for an hour the server told us... Luckily we had a small meal already before coming and was looking for another small bite so the time "limit" was fine with us.
Enjoyed the soup dumplings a lot and the beef noodle soup was very good. Wished there was more since I really liked it , but it's a good city size portion. Very yummy!
Not worth it at all. I really thought this would be better based on the pictures on the Yelp page for this restaurant. The shumai only had rice in it. I was a disappointed, as I could not taste any shrimp or pork here. The pork soup dumplings tasted like they were store-bought, frozen type of dumplings. Tasted like the run of the mill chain dumpling restaurant like Din Tai Fung. No need to come try this place in NY when you can just get this at your local Din Tai Fung in LA. The chinese broccoli also was not good. Not cooked enough (too crunchy), and no taste. Usually dim sum restaurants are pretty good at adding that garlic sauce that makes all the difference on the broccoli. Not here though...even the veggies were bad. The ambiance was cute and waiters were nice, but not worth coming back, seriously, save your money. Go to Tian Jin Dumpling in Flushing if you want to be blown away by delicious Chinese dumplings for a fraction of this price (see my review of Tian Jin Dumpling from last year). Never coming back to Carma East.
Restaurantji Recommends
I thought this dim sum bar was just a dim sum place. But it was actually a dim sum bar -- and a very clean, nice one indeed. Since it was partially a bar, and therefore a less authentic dim sum place, I was expecting average dumplings/shumai. But boy was I impressed! The sticky rice dumplings were spot on, and so were the pork soup dumplings (XLB). Also, the hulk fried rice sounds like an American abomination. But our wonderful waitress explained (without us asking -- we're not that aggressive) that the "hulk" fried rice is green, naturally, because the rice is cooked with veggies from the beginning (hence the "mixed" flavor is the most natural, as opposed to chicken-only or shrimp-only). I generally try to tip between 0-30%, aiming for a median of 15-20%. Today, I tipped over 25%, because our waitress was an absolutely joyful guide into this impressive dim sum gem in East Village.
Good food and good service. The price is actually very reasonable.
Creative menu... but very bland flavors and overpriced. Chicken seemed frozen, noodles were from a box, spicy dishes were mild, etc. Wouldn't go again.
They play sports all week, have their drink menu on the big tv screen, and have beer on tap!!! This place has such friendly staff and fun food to eat. Their food is not strictly Taiwanese like some people think. It's a blend of different Asian food fare. The soup dumplings are really yum and I really enjoy their Taiwanese crispy chicken and scallion pancakes. The hulk fried rice is awesome and the rice is naturally dyed green with vegetables. I love everything about this place.
If you have EVER had Taiwanese food before, please stay away from this restaurant because you will only leave majorly disappointed. It has been a while since I have have had such a poor dining experience. Although a bit understaffed, the waitresses were polite and efficient for the most part so this has nothing to do with the service. The food, however, was absolutely atrocious. I wish I were exaggerating but I have never had a more disappointing meal. The restaurant clearly put too much focus on their presentation and ambiance when they should have put their focus on the one thing that matters most as a restaurant, which is their food. Beyond being a disgrace to Taiwanese food, I would simply advise them to just change their entire restaurant cuisine since they have absolutely no idea how to serve or cook Taiwanese food. My friends and I ordered a total of 5 orders of Pork Soup Dumpling, 4 orders of Hulk Fried Rice with Chicken, 2 orders of Taiwanese Crispy Chicken, and 1 order of Authentic Taiwanese Beef Soup Noodles. The pork soup dumplings were made very poorly as if they had just been brought out of the microwave. The vinegar topping for the soup dumplings had to be specially requested and would come without a spoon upon arrival. Opposed to EVERY OTHER Taiwanese restaurant in the world, Carma East expected us to use chopsticks to retrieve our soup dumplings instead of the metal claw made specifically for soup dumplings. The metal claw is designed to pick up soup dumplings without them popping. Besides the soup dumplings tasting like they came straight out of the microwave, their failure to properly serve them just goes to show that Carma East has no experience with Taiwanese food. Soup dumpling is one of the core dishes of the cuisine, if you can't even get that right then, it's time to go back to the drawing board possibly rebrand your business. The "Authentic" Taiwanese Beef Soup Noodles was very far from being authentic and was probably the most disgraceful item we ordered. The broth tasted like water with added chili pepper, the beef (like the soup dumplings) tasted like they had just came out of the fridge and had absolutely no flavor. Without a doubt THE worst beef noodle soup I have ever had. The Taiwanese grilled chicken was decent tasting and was sadly probably the best item we ordered. The Hulk Fried Rice was not only very small portioned, it was also infused with way too much ginger which they failed to put in their description on the menu. In the end, my friends and I were able to finish the soup dumplings and Taiwanese fried Chicken but left most of the other food completely untouched. I know this all sounds very harsh but I am just that disappointed in this meal. The ambiance and presentation of the overall restaurant is relatively modern and fun. That's why it is with sincere honesty when I say that it would be a good idea to rebrand and change the entire cuisine of the restaurant to something you guys are more familiar with because the "Taiwanese" food is just simply unacceptable.