Most New Yorkers agree that one of the best things about NYC is the fact that any hungry resident or visitor can get pretty much any type of food he’d like any time the craving strikes. And it’s true—whether you’re craving Lebanese or Thai, Korean or Israeli, New York has an authentic restaurant to satisfy your yen. While I like to take advantage of this extraordinary breadth of offerings by trying out new restaurants and new styles of cuisine as often as I can, one of my favorite ways to make the most of New York is by focusing on one dish and attempting to find the best example the city has to offer.

Most recently, my dish has been vegetable dumplings. I’ve had an insatiable craving of late, and I’ve made it my mission to locate New York City’s best veggie dumplings. I’ve had soft, pillowy parcels at Chiam in Midtown East; half-moon-shaped packets at Heng 2 Thai Bistro in Hell’s Kitchen; and pan-fried jade morsels at Ging on the Upper East Side. And while each was tasty in its own way, I don’t feel I’ve yet encountered the absolute pinnacle of veggie-dumpling-dom. Soon, I may venture to Chinatown to see what Canal Street has to offer.

So the next time you’re in NYC (or try it now if you happen to live in a place with a wide enough selection of restaurants), pick your favorite food or your latest craving and try to find the best version you can. Whether that’s pizza, tacos, sushi, or cupcakes, I promise your search for the best will be a most rewarding journey.