The Year of the Dumpling

Come to think of it, American New Year’s sucks. A hung over day spent resolving never to eat triple fudge brownies for dinner again. What kind of holiday is that?

Here’s to a second chance at kicking it off properly. Rickshaw Dumpling Bar opens today (assuming the ConEd overlords cooperate and turn the stoves on), giving hungry Flatiron daycrawlers a tasty way to ring in the Chinese New Year. (Go rooster! Here’s to 365 days of cock jokes!)

Chef Anita Lo (Annisa, Chanterelle, Bouley) has come up with five almost-too-good-for-lunch dumplings, including wasabi shrimp and Peking duck. They’re served steamed, fried, in mouthwatering soups, or on an Asian salad. Tofu-wrapped pork dumplings will thrill carbophobes; mochi-wrapped chocolate dumplings will delight the rest of us. Add edamame and a green-tea milkshake — all for about the price of a burger and fries.

A happy meal. For a new happy new year.

Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, 61 West 23rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues (212-924-9220).