Kitchen Fire Temporarily Closes Restaurant That Replaced Ming’s

A fire erupted Thursday in the kitchen of Dumpling King — the Chinese restaurant that replaced Ming’s Place — and the business will close temporarily while owners sort things out with their insurers, the manager said.

More than 60 firefighters were called to the restaurant around 4pm after guests spotted smoke billowing out of the kitchen, according to the FDNY.

The manager said he didn’t know how the fire started. He and the other workers were eating in the back of the restaurant during their break when a family alerted them to the smoke. Guests were cleared from the room — leaving dishes scattered on the tables.

When we showed up later in the evening, some of the employees were sitting sullenly in the unlit dining room.

“Of course we’re upset. We put a lot of effort into this restaurant. We’ve been working 13 hours a day, seven days a week since we’ve opened,” said the manager, who didn’t want to give his name.

The fledgling restaurant opened in March in the location formerly occupied by Ming’s Place — a beloved Chinese restaurant that thrived for decades in the storefront on Avenue U, near East 21st Street.

The manager said they are waiting to hear back from their insurance company and did not know when the restaurant will reopen.