New Dumpling Spot To Open On 16th Street With Chinese New Year Celebration

Expect dumplings with a side of lions as a new Chinese teahouse-inspired space opens just off Prospect Park West.

The new East Wind Snack Shop is setting up in the space at 471 16th Street, which was most recently home to Brooklyn Proper, and they’re celebrating both the new business and Chinese New Year with a parade by the Chinatown Community Young Lions, according to DNAinfo. Look out for lion dancers tomorrow, Saturday February 15 at 4:30pm, as they visit about 15 businesses in the area.

The shop itself should open next week, and there you’ll find, according to the menu, “damn good Chinese food,” including pork belly gwa bao ($3.50), fried pork dumplings ($5), sweet chili ribs and rice ($12), and house-made bubble teas ($3.75). Not to mention an assortment of Pocky and other little sweet treats.

So, could dumplings be the most prosperous food to take on a space that’s seen a high rate of turnover? Brooklyn Proper was open for about five month, and before that, Brooklyn Oyster Company shucked up shellfish for just a few months in this space in 2013, and before that was Scoopz ice cream shop, and before that Lia’s Ices, all within the past few years.

If anyone can make this spot work, we’re guessing it could be owner and chef Chris Cheung, who DNAinfo notes is a Windsor Terrace neighbor. He’s got quite a celebrated resume, having helped open both Nobu, from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, and Jean-Georges, and having worked at Ruby Foo’s and the Monkey Bar.

Best of luck, chef, and we’re looking forward to checking it out!