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Nothing beats some hot oil dumplings after a morning stroll down flushing streets. Where you sit down in a park immerse to the concrete jungle. White bear held strong throughout the years keeping the price low, and the quality the same. Dumpling was juicy and moist. Hot oil hits with flavor.
I ordered the #6 Chili Oil Wontons with 12 pcs for $10. The portion size is perfect for a meal or splitting with a friend as a snack. At a Saturday mid-day, there wasn't a line and the food was prepared quickly after ordering, I would say the whole interaction was less than 5 min. That being said, the wontons were lukewarm which I assume had been prepared for a while. And the flavor was unremarkable, there was a lack of spice and the chili oil was more salty than any other flavor. The filling was neither delicious nor bad. It was a bit disappointing considering we were hungry when we ate this, and were unimpressed. I've had better and would have no reason to order this again.
It tasted like nothing. Genuinely. For some reason they weren't open for ~15-20 mins past their stated opening time.
White Bear is my FAV mom and pop staple in Flushing ~ they've been around for yearssss! Like back when it was still styrofoam containers, bless her. I can agree that quality went down a bit a few years ago but it's slowly been picking back up ~ the flavors are still the same homey traditional flavors I grew up eating. Chili Wontons + Dan Dan Noodles, can't go wrong with the best choice. Cash only and sometimes they'll close early if they sell out on weekends. There's no more sit down, it's just takeout from their ordering window.
We came here to try this place after hearing so many good things about it! Run by the sweetest elderly couple, they make their wontons fresh and they are deliciouss. 10/10 - $10 for 12 wontons is not bad at all considering it is made fresh! It is a hole in the wall place that has amazing food. I would definitely come back!
Got their famous hot chili oil wontons. The hot oil is relatively mild, but umami. Not as spicy as I would like. The filling is plentiful. These aren't the best spicy wontons I've had, but good to stop by on a food crawl. I definitely prefer a lighter wonton skin, and a more concentrated filling. They used to allow indoor dining, but stopped after COVID. It is takeout only. This is a cash only spot, an I would say the wontons are good to share between 2 people (especially if you're going for more food later.) worth stopping by (￣^￣)ゞ
This restaurant is the epitome of flushing. The food is very affordable and among the best I've had in New York City. The spicy shrimp dumplings are to die for. They are tender, flavorful, and have the perfect amount of spice, all for a very affordable price. The service is fast and efficient, however, you might see some long lines. While you can't dine in at the restaurant, you do get a very authentic experience and great service out the window.
Spicy wontons were great! Payed with cash and took the food to a nearby park. People really liked the chili sauce on the wontons!
A very nonchalant dumpling place! We almost missed this when we were walking since there were no clear signs. You order from a window and there is no seating. The lady who runs the place comes to the window, takes your order, and gives you the food. Everything is cash only. I ordered the #6 Wontons in Hot Chilli Sauce and it was delicious! The wrapper is very thin and they are generous with the filling. Everything came hot and fresh. $10 for 10 wontons. I would come again! Great if you want something fast and to take home.
Haven't visited White Bear in years. It's takeout only now, but still cash only. Went on a Sunday afternoon and there was one couple in front of us. The person at the window took their order and didn't come back to take our order until she came out with the couple's order. Didn't have to wait too long, though. Got 2 orders of the #6 (wonton with hot sauce) and 1 order of the #17 (dan dan noodles - comes with or without pork, but we got the pork). It came out to $30 total, with each dish being $10. The #6 comes with a dozen wontons. Despite the red color, the chili oil isn't spicy at all. The wontons had a thin skin and were filled with plenty of meat, with most of the flavor coming from the chili oil crisps and the pickled mustard bits. The dan dan noodles were tasty, and came with a sauce very similar to the wontons. You really can't go wrong by ordering #6 and/or #17.
Quick and easy chili wontons for $10! You'll have to get it for take out so I just ate the food next to the store. I wish it had a little more saltiness or flavor, it felt a little lacking on those aspects but nonetheless it was still yummy.
*TAKE-OUT & CASH ONLY* Like most other folks here, I had to come because SO many recommended their #6 Wontons with Hot Sauce. I have to say, these wontons didn't disappoint. They were decently sized and generously packed with meat filling. The chili sauce looked spicy but surprisingly didn't taste too hot. Very balanced and delicious. The pricing is steep for about 10 wontons, but guess that's to be expected with how viral they are. Would definitely come back.
Finally made it here for a late lunch on a weekday. It's very close to the subway & not too hard to find. Passed by a few times & never realized that this was the place that's all over social media. It's on a quieter block across from a housing complex and around the corner from a small children's park. There's an "unhoused encampment" two storefronts over, but those locals seem to stick to themselves. It's also at a busy commercial intersection with lots business development across the street (bakeries, boba shops, Spot Dessert Bar) & people walking to Sky View Mall. The interesting co-habitants of NYC. There was no line & the friendly worker was on her phone/break inside and I got her attention. She spoke Mandarin & communicated in English fine. It's now a window to order from, so you need to find a seat at the park or head to Golden Shopping Mall Food Court or New York Food Court. $10 for #6 Spicy Wontons. WHICH PROVINCE is this dish from? I always wonder WHICH Chinese cuisine are these viral dumpling places from (are they all Fujianese-owned?), or are they a mash-up of different provinces, to appeal to customers? It's hard to know if this is a good representative dish of the flavors that I'm supposed to be eating. And what am I supposed to taste. NOTE: My dish came out fast and wasn't very warm. Since it was after lunch hours, it seemed like everything was premade and tossed together. Or are you supposed to eat the wontons cooler / lukewarm? Maybe make sure to ask them to heat it up. I actually took this home for dinner & reheated it. Even though the container is on the smaller side, the amount was pretty filling, maybe about 10 small wontons. The quality of the ingredients were very fresh and each wonton had a lot of scallion packed in with pork. The skins are kind of medium - thin, I'm still not a fan of dumplings and medium - thick skins. Grew up on Cantonese-style Wontons. The topping / sauce is finely chopped pickles (maybe pickled radish), scallion, ginger, sesame seeds & chili oil. The Chili Oil had NO HEAT. And I'm a person that can't eat too spicy. The dumpling filling didn't have much seasoning either overall it was fine but one note and the most pronounced flavor were the pickles. I wonder if the flavor has been dumbed down over the years because of tourism. OR is this the style of this province? Can someone clarify. Glad to support this business, but not something I'd come back for. At least for the way they made my dish, it seems kid-friendly too.
I never realized I passed this place several times years ago and never tried it until now. White Bear has a hype about their wontons being one of the best in town. Don't expect this to be a fancy place. White Bear is one of those simple small hole in the wall places that are known for their simple dishes. No frills but just simple good food. It's a take out spot, so if you plan to eat them right away you will be doing that standing on the sidewalk. The place is also cash only, so make sure to come prepared. The employee I interacted with was very nice. It only took about five minutes to get the wonton orders and I was off on my way. At first look you would think the dish might be spicy by the color, but it really was a nice mild level with the chilis and chopped cabbage. The wontons were very flavorful and delicious. Even my husband who was the pickiest of eaters couldn't stop talking about them. Now I know why they have such the reputation. We will definitely be stoping by again in the future. read more
1 year ago
This is a popular hole-in-the-wall and it is well worth the commute from Manhattan. Be sure to go earlier in the day to avoid lines and before popular dishes run out! White Bear is CASH ONLY and the prices on the menu are exactly what you pay (tax and tip aren't required). I got one of the most popular items, #6 - wonton with hot sauce and wish I got another meal to-go. The dough is very fresh and juicy and it paired nicely with the chili sauce. I wish it was more flavorful, but well worth the price for 12 ($10). I ordered from a take-out window and the service is very quick. I wish this restaurant had seating to enjoy my meal, but there is a park with plenty of benches just down the block. Not pictured: Another meal that was ordered was the popular dish #17 - noodle with hot sauce. The noodles are fresh but the dish was not as flavorful. I recommend the wonton with chili oil instead! I'm stopping by White Bear again once I'm back in Flushing, Queens! read more
First stop on a recent Flushing Chinatown food tour -- my husband and I grabbed the #6 on the way to a different restaurant and ate these hot on the street. The wonton wrappers were mushier/broke much easier than I remember which is why this is a 4-star review, but the filling and flavors were still on point. Always a great place to grab a quick bite! No wait at open (10AM) whatsoever. read more
9 months ago
I'm not sure if this place was overhyped to me, but the chili wontons were not that mind blowing to me. They were pretty good but not something I'd miss. If you're not great with spice, don't worry. It looks intimidating but it's not very spicy. It's mostly for the fragrance and not the spice. You order at the window and the service is pretty quick. There's no seating, so it's take out only. Make sure to bring cash. read more
Solid takeaway only spot in downtown Flushing. Came here with a group right when they opened and was one of the first to place our order. Took about ~5 minutes for the chili wantons to come out as they made it fresh. We ate them right on the spot, sharing the 12 wantons between 4 people. The wantons were good, although I personally wouldn't wished for them to be a little more spicy. Some of the wantons were hotter than others (like literal cooking temp), so it was a guessing game on whether you were gonna burn your mouth when popping one in. All in all though, a good deal and fun place to try out! I can see why it's popular, and while I wouldn't seek it out I'd be down to go again if I'm in the area. read more
SO insanely good! We stop by here almost every single time we're in Flushing, and we always get the wontons in chili oil. It's a pork wonton, and the wrapper paper is very thin and chewy and lets the filling stand out. The chili oil and sauce and minced pickles on top are actually the perfect complement to the richness of the wontons. My boyfriend and I actually inhale these in seconds. It's cash only and no inside dining, so pick it up to go or grab and eat it on the sidewalk. It's super quick, window service! The menu is fairly small, and I want to try more things but their wontons are absolutely 10/10. read more
I saw so many people raving about the wontons so I tried them. The wontons themselves were solid, but they're really just a vehicle for that AMAZING chili oil. It's not spicy at all, but it's somehow very flavorful! I wish I could've bought a jar of that chili oil. read more
I was pretty excited to try these and they're not too spicy which I enjoyed. This spot is takeout only and so my friends and I ate right outside. The staff saw we had multiple people and were kind enough to offer us extra utensils even though we didn't want to waste them. These spicy dumplings were nice and thin which I liked and it had a good chew. My only qualm would be that the sauce doesn't seem to linger like I wished. Maybe I just needed to douse it in the sauce but I think had it penetrated the whole dumpling, it would've had more of a balanced and addicting flavor. Other than that I think it's still a great spot to grab some dumplings on your Flushing food crawl or just a light snack! read more
I had to do it and try the iconic #6 I've heard so much about. The wontons were delicious! The spicy chili sauce does overwhelm the essence of the wonton itself, so I'd recommend ordering another option without the chili oil to assess the integrity of the wontons. I personally was sharing with a roommate and my boyfriend and even so, the 12 wontons were a LOT to share, so only one order for us that day. The order came out super quick! Have your cash ready! read more
Been seeing this place make the rounds on the internet and figured I'd give it a try while my wife and I were on a bit of a flushing food crawl. The place is takeout and cash only. Came on a Saturday maybe around an hour or so before closing. I'm pretty sure the owners at this point know everyone just orders the number 6/spicy wontons. We got them within a few min. I think the bulk of time was just them spent putting all the chili oil and other fixings on top. The wontons themselves were pretty unremarkable and run-of-the-mill. It bothered me that they weren't particularly warm like it was just sitting in lukewarm water or something, the chili oil and other bits were good and gave it a decent umami flavor, but some acidity from something like black vinegar I think would've helped it ton. The main note was chili oil which wasn't particularly good. Probably just used lao gan ma which is great for at home use, but if you've ever had chili oil made fresh, it makes a world of difference and I think that really separates ok restaurants from great ones. Considering how ultra competitive and volume of options to choose from in Flushing, I'd probably just try something else. It was $10 for 12 small-ish wontons so not exactly the greatest value, but then again not the worst. I feel this is an instance where internet hype is probably going to hurt this business in the long run. I overall think it's worth a try if you're passing by, but will not be actively recommending this place. read more
Over the last few years, White Bear (白熊) has become the most popular hole in the wall in downtown Flushing, amassing fanfare from beyond NYC and becoming a destination for all visiting foodies. This is especially remarkable given their start, from the initially confusing "ice cream" awning (#1) to becoming a treasured noodle spot and eventually *discovered* for their hot oil wontons. Run by an older couple from northern China, the shop is incredibly tiny, with only three tiny tables meant for 2, cramped from end to end. Since the pandemic, they transitioned to takeout only, through the window of the dining area. At the beginning, locals would flock to White Bear for their fresh noodles, which ranged from their version of dan dan noodles to the heartier zhajiang meat sauce kind. Noodle soups were also a thing, as were their rice cakes, which are highly underrated. There was a steady flow of folks coming in just to buy bags of their frozen dumplings, which folks coming in to buy sacks of their frozen dumplings and wontons for takeout. Then sometime in 2008, the hot oil wontons became a product of accidental stardom, in which blogs began covering the appetizer as the must-get item resulting in an influx of a new fanbase of foodies. At the time, it was a bargain at $4.50 for 12, $7 for 20. The outside sign noted that they're Shanghai style wontons (上海餛飩), but I'd dare say that their version is more akin to the their Shandong (山東) roots, which is especially noticeable in their regular dumplings (水餃). The skin is delicate, the meat is soft, and when topped off with pickled veg in a bath of hot oil, it's a recipe for success. I've taken many folks here over the years and have dined in solo often. Despite it being a takeout first place, the food is really best enjoyed on the spot. Now that the wontons have taken on a life of their own, the photo galleries on any platform is littered in mainly wontons. The post pandemic price hike has ballooned to $10 for 12, which is still among the least expensive on their menu currently. Foodflation is no one's friend. Service is never going to be their strong suit. I have seen them struggle with English speakers nearly every visit, but Mandarin is always the preferred lingo here. The couple has their sweet moments, but they also operate at a snail's pace, which contributes mightily to the bottleneck of people that sometimes forms along Prince St. This review is probably a decade too late, but I find comfort in knowing that they represent a time what Flushing once was: a destination for affordable, authentic eats. Now, White Bear ushers in a newer era where the landscape includes Chinese trendiness, tourist eats, while managing longevity during one of the city's toughest periods. __________ (#1) My photo from 14 years ago: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/white-bear-flushing?select=-Lbvwu9T10101-1RA7sMVA (#2) Especially convenient now that the existing phone line is disconnected. read more
Take-out spot. Cash only. Chili oil wontons (#6) was absolutely PHENOMENAL. The oil was so fresh and the food came piping out. The wontons were ssoooo flavorful and soft and chewy. By far the best wontons I've had in New York. I can barely do spice but I def recommend asking for extra chili oil !!! read more
This place is a hidden gem and serves amazing spicy chili oil styled wontons! Honestly, that's the only item that got this place known for so just stick with that dish. It's their #6 - Wonton with Hot Sauce (Hot, no soup) for $10. It's cash only and there's no dine-in. It's a small shop where you order at the front window. Great kick of spice, not overbearing and the wonton skin is thin - just the way I like it. Also, the pork inside is just as delicious! read more
I ordered the most popular item of 8 dumplings. The taste was plain; the filling was much less them I expected for the size of the dumpling skin. The hot old was weak and disappointing. The price was too high at eight dumplings for $10. So disappointing. read more
Food (5/5): Got the #6 which is the spicy oil wonton. It was $10 cash and came out instantly. It was very delicious and since we came early there was almost no line. I liked the flavors of the chili and the textures of the wonton. Service (4/5): Not the friendliest service but they will get the food out quickly. Ambiance (3/5): Not the fanciest place and quite an unassuming venue but it's good food. Basically it's just a pick up place where you make your order and step away. read more
1 year ago
Do you like your wonton skin to be powdery and undercooked? How about a vibrant pink color in your pork? Well you've come to the right place because there's no other place in flushing that'll fulfill your raw desire. From the overrated reviews to the wonderful smell of the guy airing out his foot fungus behind you as you order, I'd say this place definitely has a special place in my heart. You can't really get this Skidrow-esque experience anywhere else! read more
Even though this place has blown up in recent years I still think it's one of the best dumpling shops around! Super affordable and such good quantity. No sit down here and cash only, but you come here for the food not for the service or decor! read more
Anticipated quite a bit because of the hype but didn't find anything special about the wontons. They weren't juicy or have the sweetness I look for in wontons from the skin and sauce. They were more of a dry chili wonton but not bad. read more
3 years ago
I ordered the #6 Wontons with hot sauce, expecting it to be spicy but was disappointed when there was no spice or heat at all. It's filling as it came with a huge portion and I did like the addition of scallions and other toppings which added texture to the wontons. However, the noticeable increase in price over the years, with the wontons now costing $10, felt like a bit much, especially considering how the wontons fell short of the overhyped expectations. Very quick service with no lines or waiting as I came around 2pm. It's takeout only so there's no where to sit and enjoy the wontons. More of a grab and go spot. It's cash only too. read more
2 years ago
They use to be so good! It's become a mediocre wonton place with the increase in price too. It's become not that worth for what you're getting. read more
White Bear is on the top of every Flushing food crawl, so I had some high expectations. We ordered the infamous #6 Wonton with Chili ($10). The container includes about a dozen pieces of juicy and plump wontons. While I did enjoy the wontons, I wish the chili sauce was actually spicy. It was more reminiscent of a black bean sauce to give it some flavor. If you're afraid it'll be spicy, it's not as spicy as it looks at all. At this price, it's also one of the pricier items when eating in Flushing too. It's a bit overhyped for me, but worth checking out still. read more
This place is the definition of a hole in the wall. Walking past and up to the restaurant you would think it's closed. Me and the bf literally walked back and forth a couple times cause it looked closed and no one was coming to help us at the window (you can't go inside) so my bf called out for their attention. We ordered the spicy wonton which came out instantly! The wontons were cheap, delicious, fresh and flavorful. One of our favorite finds in flushing! read more
I really do not understand why this place is so popular. A cash only establishment, that has no dine in option, the dumplings were pretty subpar. There were too many peppers, took away from the flavor, and the filling was bland. The chili oil did not taste like anything either. Would not recommend. read more
Ate and tried this place out for the first time while going to Flushing by myself on a cold afternoon. I had only brought the 12 spicy wontons and it tasted delicious and not spicy at all that it should've been spicy to satisfy my taste. The service there was also attentive and super quick. I couldn't agree more. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time. read more
2 years ago
Went because it's been featured on social media... When we got there at 5PM there were big line so we figured it gotta be good. Had the Wonton and Dan Dan noodle. Wonton was super bland and chili oil wasn't spicy at all. The Dan Dan noodle tasted too salty, and noodle was super soft (almost felt like it melts in your mouth). Really not sure where the hype came from. Would not go again. read more
Made a stop at white bear during a Chinatown food crawl with some friends. Got the #6 chili oil wontons. The restaurant is a little hole in the wall with no seating. The man who served us was friendly. As for the wontons themselves, unfortunately I've had better. The meat inside was bland although the texture was good. But I wouldn't come out of my way to have them again read more
This tiny takeout window pops up on all of the must-try restaurant lists in Flushing. You pay with cash and they have a limited menu of mostly dumplings. I really wanted to try their standard dumplings but they didn't have them on the early Saturday afternoon when I stopped by. I didn't want to hold up the line so I went with what everybody was getting, the famous #6 wontons in chili oil for $10. Within 5 minutes the employee handed me a bag with a piping hot container of wontons. We decided to stand and eat along the sidewalk as it wasn't too crowded. I loved how plump the wontons were, but I was honestly shocked at how underseasoned everything was. The pork filling could have used a lot more salt, or even other basic seasonings (pepper, garlic, scallions, give me anything). The chili oil on top might scare some people who are afraid of spice, but honestly it didn't really have much flavor or spiciness to it. The highlight were the little bits of pickled vegetable (I think radish) on top which added a lot of savory flavor and crunchy texture. read more
3 years ago
2nd time back while visiting the city for a work conference. Wanted to get some faves in Flushing before leaving and White Bear is a must! For $10, you get a huge fix of pork wontons in spicy oil and scallions. Quick service (order at window) and it's definitely what I consider street food. It is so good the 2nd time around and definitely shareable. Unfortunately I couldn't finish and was so sad lol (even contemplated bringing the rest with me onto the flight). Overall, make a stop here! read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
The Dan Dan noodles and spicy wontons are the best here. Take them home or eat them when they're hot on the sidewalk. Can be a bit messy but you won't regret it. read more
3 years ago
I'm gonna be real with y'all-- it's 100% overhyped. Spicy Wontons #6: the wrapping is quite thick, couldnt really taste the filling, and the chili oil sauce is pretty bland as well where I had to ask for vinegar :( It's a pretty filling portion but for $10, I expected something at least warm to order but it seemed like they had them premade sitting to be picked up because I received my order in literally 10 seconds. It's a cash only, order-and-go establishment so if you are in a hurry, you may consider this. But then again you're in Flushing, a bustling foodie scene. Weigh your options. read more
10 months ago
this place is worth the hype. wontons taste just as delicious as they look. every time im in flushing i will make sure to stop by here! read more
More info about White Bear
135-02 Roosevelt Ave
Flushing, NY 11354
Downtown Flushing, Flushing
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(718) 961-2322
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Ask the Community - White Bear
Are they currently set frozen wontons and how much?
They are selling frozen wontons by the bag, I believe in quantities of 20.
Is this place closed on Monday? The old lady said they're closed Feb 4,2019 just wondering if they make up their own hours on when they wanna serve customers
It's probably because of Chinese New Year
Is it possible to order vegetarian dumplings? Are the dumplings already premade with meat.
Yes, it's possible, but probable? Vegetable dumplings are on the menu. You could even buy a bag of frozen veggie dumplings to take home. That's if they actually have them, which never seems to be the case.
Can you get veggie wontons with the chilli oil? Also, do the workers speaks english (just want to be on the safe side)?
No. You get #6.
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White Bear - chinese - Updated November 2026
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