Best Eats In Chinatown NY: An Unforgettable Culinary Experience

Chinatown in New York City is one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the world, known for its unique culture and delicious cuisine. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, exploring Chinatown’s culinary scene is a must-do experience. With so many incredible restaurants to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide where to dine. We’ve created a list of the best eats in Chinatown NY to guide you on your culinary journey. From delicious dim sum to mouth-watering noodles, this guide is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

Dim Sum Heaven: Nom Wah Tea Parlor 🍔

If you’re looking for the ultimate dim sum experience, Nom Wah Tea Parlor is the place to be. This legendary restaurant has been serving up steaming baskets of dumplings since 1920. The restaurant is known for its egg rolls, pork buns, and shrimp dumplings. Be prepared for a wait, but trust us, it’s worth it.

What’s the best time to visit Nom Wah Tea Parlor?

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, but we recommend visiting for brunch. Dim sum is traditionally a brunch meal, and Nom Wah Tea Parlor offers a unique and authentic experience.

Hand-Pulled Noodles: Xi’an Famous Foods 🍛

If you’re craving noodles, Xi’an Famous Foods is the place to go. This restaurant is famous for its hand-pulled noodles and flavorful sauces. From spicy lamb noodles to cumin lamb burgers, this restaurant has something for everyone.

What’s the best dish at Xi’an Famous Foods?

It’s hard to pick just one dish, but we recommend trying the Spicy Lamb Noodle Soup. It’s the perfect combination of tender lamb, chewy noodles, and spicy broth.

Traditional Cantonese: Hwa Yuan 🍣

Hwa Yuan is a Chinatown institution that has been around since the 1960s. This restaurant specializes in traditional Cantonese cuisine, and their menu is extensive. From barbecue pork to crispy duck, Hwa Yuan is a great place to try classic Cantonese dishes.

What’s the best time to visit Hwa Yuan?

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, but we recommend visiting for dinner. Hwa Yuan’s dinner menu is more extensive and includes more seafood options.

Bubble Tea: Kung Fu Tea 🍋

No trip to Chinatown is complete without trying bubble tea. Kung Fu Tea is one of the most popular bubble tea chains in Chinatown. They offer a wide variety of flavors and toppings, and their drinks are always fresh and delicious.

What’s the most popular drink at Kung Fu Tea?

The classic Milk Tea with bubbles is the most popular drink at Kung Fu Tea. It’s creamy, sweet, and the bubbles add a fun texture.

Seafood: East Harbor Seafood Palace 🍤

Chinatown is known for its incredible seafood, and East Harbor Seafood Palace is one of the best places to try it. This restaurant offers a wide variety of seafood dishes, including lobster, crab, and clams.

What’s the best seafood dish at East Harbor Seafood Palace?

The Salt and Pepper Crab is a must-try dish at East Harbor Seafood Palace. It’s crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned.

Cheap Eats: Vanessa’s Dumpling House 🍕

If you’re on a budget, Vanessa’s Dumpling House is the perfect place to grab a quick and delicious meal. They offer a wide variety of dumplings, buns, and noodles, all at affordable prices.

What’s the best value meal at Vanessa’s Dumpling House?

The Pork and Chive Dumplings are a great value at Vanessa’s Dumpling House. They’re filling, flavorful, and only cost a few dollars.

Vegetarian: Buddha Bodai 🌾

Buddha Bodai is a vegetarian Chinese restaurant that offers a wide variety of plant-based dishes. From vegetarian dim sum to meat-free General Tso’s Chicken, this restaurant proves that vegetarian food can be just as delicious as meat-based dishes.

What’s the best vegetarian dish at Buddha Bodai?

The Vegetarian Duck is a popular dish at Buddha Bodai. It’s made from wheat gluten and has a meaty texture and flavor.

Bakery: Tai Pan Bakery 🍩

Tai Pan Bakery is a Chinatown institution that has been around for over 30 years. They offer a wide variety of Chinese pastries, cakes, and desserts. From egg tarts to pineapple buns, Tai Pan Bakery is a great place to satisfy your sweet tooth.

What’s the most popular pastry at Tai Pan Bakery?

The Egg Tart is the most popular pastry at Tai Pan Bakery. It’s a flaky pastry shell filled with a sweet and creamy egg custard.

Thai-Chinese Fusion: Fish Cheeks 🍤

Fish Cheeks is a popular Thai-Chinese fusion restaurant in Chinatown. They offer a unique and flavorful menu that combines the best of both cuisines. From spicy green curry to crispy fried chicken, Fish Cheeks is a great place to try something new.

What’s the best dish at Fish Cheeks?

The Whole Fried Market Fish is a must-try dish at Fish Cheeks. It’s crispy, flavorful, and comes with a side of tangy dipping sauce.

Ramen: Tatsu Ramen 🍜

If you’re a ramen lover, Tatsu Ramen is the place to be. They offer a wide variety of ramen options, from classic Tonkotsu to spicy Miso. Their broth is rich and flavorful, and their noodles are perfectly cooked.

What’s the best time to visit Tatsu Ramen?

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, but we recommend visiting for dinner. The restaurant can get crowded during lunch hours, so dinner is a better time to avoid long waits.

Hot Pot: 99 Favor Taste 🍛

99 Favor Taste is a popular hot pot restaurant in Chinatown. They offer a wide variety of meats, vegetables, and sauces to customize your hot pot experience. The restaurant is great for groups and offers a fun and interactive dining experience.

What’s the best time to visit 99 Favor Taste?

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, but we recommend visiting for dinner. The restaurant can get crowded during lunch hours, so dinner is a better time to avoid long waits.

Tea House: Ten Ren Tea 🍵

Ten Ren Tea is a popular tea house in Chinatown that offers a wide variety of teas and bubble tea. From classic Oolong to fruity Herbal teas, Ten Ren Tea has something for everyone. They also sell tea leaves and teaware, making it the perfect place to stock up on tea supplies.

What’s the most popular tea at Ten Ren Tea?

The Ten Ren Milk Oolong is the most popular tea at Ten Ren Tea. It’s a creamy and smooth tea with a hint of sweetness.

Barbecue: Big Wong King 🍭

Big Wong King is a popular barbecue restaurant in Chinatown that offers a wide variety of roasted meats. From roast pork to crispy duck, Big Wong King’s meats are flavorful and perfectly cooked.

What’s the best barbecue dish at Big Wong King?

The Roast Pork is a must-try dish at Big Wong King. It’s juicy, tender, and has a crispy skin.

Chinese-American: Joe’s Shanghai 🍢

Joe’s Shanghai is a popular Chinese-American restaurant in Chinatown that offers a wide variety of dishes. From General Tso’s Chicken to Shrimp Fried Rice, Joe’s Shanghai’s menu has all your Chinese-American favorites.

What’s the best dish at Joe’s Shanghai?

The Soup Dumplings are a must-try dish at Joe’s Shanghai. These dumplings are filled with hot broth and a meat filling, and are a fun and unique dish to try.

Ice Cream: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory 🍨

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is a popular ice cream shop in Chinatown that offers a wide variety of unique flavors. From lychee to green tea, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory’s flavors are inspired by Chinatown’s culture and heritage.

What’s the most popular flavor at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory?

The Black Sesame flavor is the most popular flavor at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. It’s a nutty and sweet flavor that’s perfectly creamy.

The Ultimate Chinatown Experience:

Exploring Chinatown’s culinary scene is an unforgettable experience that everyone should try. From dim sum to hot pot, Chinatown offers a wide variety of unique and delicious dishes