Street Scavenger: Sweet Fried Cruller

Here's a guest post from Molly, who writes the Scavenger feature over at Apartment Therapy. She recently encountered a sweet street treat in Chinatown and sent in this report...

If there's one thing the Scavenger likes more than a great furniture bargain, it's a great dining bargain; great dining bargains are never $300, which can't be said for any piece of furniture I've ever coveted.

My latest find, discovered on an adventure with an intrepid and dashing compatriot, is this slightly sweet, entirely delicious fried (but not too greasy!) cruller from Hsin Wong (72 Bayard Street, between Elizabeth and Mott Streets, Chinatown). The size of a small loaf of bread, it costs a mere 75 cents.

Said intrepid and dashing compatriot and I have no idea what's in it, but we agree on these points: it's dang tasty, the top is just crunchy enough to be spectacular, and we'd both pay well over five dollars to eat it again. But we don't have to. So next time, we'll each get our own.

Fair warning for vegetarians and the squeamish: Hsin Wong, like many surrounding establishments, displays its meat up front. Like, really front and center. Proceed at will.

- Molly

Comments (9)

In South Africa these things are called "fat cakes."

Clearly this marketing technique would NOT translate well here in the US!

posted by Jennifer on 2006-03-28 14:02:01

I daresay there is one worldwide universal treat . . .
fried dough

thai fried dough
italian fried dough
south african fried dough
all the street food and church fairs of the world unite

posted by guido on 2006-03-28 14:49:02

See, that's the thing...it's fried dough like, yet isn't. It's magical; transcendant. I can't eat fried dough without feeling sick, but I'm pretty sure I could wolf down about two or three of these bad boys. It's lacking in greasiness save for a light slick on your fingertips from when you pull it apart. Although it didn't come through in the photos, there was also some bright yellow, well, I guess you could call it dust or crumbs in the middle. Anyone know what those are?

Speaking of street food, I am totally counting down the days until mozzarepas are readily available at street fairs.

posted by Molly/Scavenger on 2006-03-28 15:05:04

I'll gladly join your street-food chant, guido!
fried churros-had some filled with thickened condensed milk in the market in Costa Rica (sprinkled on top with cinammon sugar)...ummm
And don't even get me started on fried starchy items available as street food in Latin America. Yuca & fried tortillas that are topped with goodies.., plus plantains, etc.

posted by leeds on 2006-03-28 15:30:20

Hmmm... isn't a donut fried dough?

posted by Brian on 2006-03-28 17:47:24

Molly, that IS the thing with fried dough when you get it right, anywhere in the world. It's magical; transcendant.

There is of course a danger it could be a gross greasy mess. Let's not even bother with that stuff!

I had an aunt (Italian) whose job it was to run around to people's houses delivering fried dough from a particular church's fair . . .

posted by guido on 2006-03-28 19:25:46

It's called a COW TONGUE PASTRY

posted by JJ on 2006-03-28 20:26:06

JJ are you giving us the Chinese translation?

posted by guido on 2006-03-29 06:52:26

YES

posted by JJ on 2006-10-11 19:07:13