Our Foodie Guide to Chinatown, New York City
Looking for the best noodles, dumplings, dessert and more in Chinatown, New York City?
With tempting restaurants, bakeries and shops on every block, Chinatown is every foodie’s dream! Whether you are looking for a hearty bowl of noodles, some juicy dumplings or something sweet for dessert, we got you covered. Here is our foodie guide to Chinatown, New York City. Be sure to join us on our food tour of Chinatown and Little Italy for even more yummy recommendations!
The Best Dim Sum: Royal Seafood
P.C.: yelp, Chun M.
There are a lot of top-notch dim sum restaurants in Chinatown like Nom Wah Tea Parlor (13 Doyers St) and House of Joy (28 Pell St) but one that has become our favorite lately is also a hidden gem, Royal Seafood (103 Mott St). Royal Seafood has all the classic dim sum dishes, and they are all delicious. Some of our must haves include steamed shrimp dumplings, turnip cake and steamed rice rolls.
The Best Dumplings: Jin Mei Dumpling
P.C.: yelp, Ruwan J.
Dumpling shops are a staple for foodies in Chinatown. One of our favorite dumpling shops year after year is Tasty Dumpling (42 Mulberry St) but another dumpling shop that we love equally as much is Jin Mei Dumpling (25B Henry St B). It is a bit off the beaten path and on the outskirts of Chinatown, but their super flavorful, juicy fried dumplings are worth the trip.
The Best Baos: Mei Lai Wah Bakery
P.C.: yelp, Tsz-Cheong C.
A freshly made bun aka bao is the perfect snack or light lunch. The most popular spot for baos in Chinatown is probably Mei Lai Wah Bakery (62 Bayard St). Their amazing baked or steamed pork buns draw visitors from around the city and perhaps even from around the world every day. Golden Steamer (210 Grand St & Other Locations) and Fay Da Bakery (83 Mott St & Other Locations) are more top notch bakeries.
The Best Noodles: Tasty Hand- Pulled Noodles
One of our go to comfort foods is a giant bowl of noodles. We especially crave the chewy, knife cut noodles at Tasty Hand- Pulled Noodles (1 Doyers St & 106 Bayard St). You can get them stir fried (great during the warmer months) or served with soup (great during the colder months). Plus, you get them with beef, chicken, pork, seafood, vegetables and every combination in between.
The Best Lunch Spot: Hay Hay Roasted
P.C.: yelp, Kat L.
If you are looking for a classic Cantonese lunch, you must get the roast duck, chicken or char sui (roast pork) over rice from Hay Hay Roasted (81 Mott St). Their Chinese style BBQ roasted meats just burst with flavor with every bite. You can taste this and a lot more on our Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest Tour!
The Best Sit-Down Restaurant: Phoenix Palace
P.C.: yelp, Mike C.
Phoenix Palace (85 Bowery) is the most exciting new restaurant this year. It is the sister restaurant to the very popular Potluck Club (133 Chrystie St). With dishes like their lobster sticky rice and chili crab noodles, Phoenix Palace is perfect if you want a more adventurous take on Chinese food for dinner.
The Best Dessert: Fong On
P.C.: yelp, Jenny T.
Finally, if you in the mood for an interesting dessert, we highly recommend the sweet dessert tofu from Fong On (81 Division St). Their tofu with a bit of syrup just hits the spot, especially after a big meal. You can get this tofu with a bunch of fun toppings too like red beans, boba and grass jelly. Another dessert spot to look out for in Chinatown is Pinklady Cheese Tart (11 Mott St).