There are all manner of euphemisms to describe the size of 541+: cozy, intimate, snug. But in reality it¡¯s a closet containing three small tables separated from the kitchen by a fridge.
The size is reflected in the ²µ²â¨³ú²¹ dumplings, which are also petit. In line with a growing trend, the house dumplings are sans garlic; to order the more orthodox garlic variety you¡¯ll need to ask for the ¡°229¡± ¡ª a nod to the owner-chef¡¯s penchant for puns. While the joke in the shop¡¯s name was lost on me, I was immensely proud of deciphering 229. Phonetically, the numbers hint at the syllables for the word ¡°garlic¡± in Japanese: ni-ni-ku.
The dumplings here are either steamed, smothered in mayonnaise, soaked in soy sauce and scallions or garnished with pak choi and a sweet chili sauce ¡ª one of my favorites. 541+ also does a decent bowl of tantanmen (Szechuan spicy soup). Its version is less soupy than the original and closer to the Taiwanese version.
As for the fridge, it contains a decent stockpile of bottled craft beer including the local Minoh Beer and IPAs from Scotland¡¯s BrewDog.
541+ isn¡¯t held back by its cramped location. There¡¯s much to savor here in the variety of dumplings ¡ª and the chef¡¯s elaborate puns.
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