I promise, in real life this fried bread looks less like a penis.

I had recently had some luck experimenting with random bakeries when I came across Dragon Bakery on the cusp of Chinatown. Ordering at the bakery is a bit of an unexpected experience. While one wall is filled with what appears to be self service bins of baked goods — some recognizable and some not — a clerk is there to dole out your selection.

I’ll admit by the time I figured out how to order, my frustration had gotten the best of me and instead of ordering something weird looking, I went with what looked the safest bet: fried dough with sugar. There may not be a whole lot of authentic Chinese culture in this bread, but I wasn’t really complaining either given that it was soft on the inside and crispy, covered in sugar on the outside.

Afterward, I regretted not washing the stickiness off my hands. But that’s my only real regret.

Dragon Land Bakery
125 Walker Street
Manhattan