Look no further than New York City’s Chinatown if you are searching for some of the most diverse and delicious restaurants in the city. With its’ long history of wonderful Chinese, Japanese, and Asian culture, Chinatown is the place to go for an authentically delicious culinary experience. Here is our guide to some of the best restaurants in NYC’s Chinatown.
What to Expect from Chinatown Restaurants
If you’ve never visited Chinatown before, here’s what to expect from a trip to its’ many restaurants. Chinatown is known for its’ traditional Cantonese-style foods from China. Most restaurants offer extensive menus with many dishes that focus on fresh, local ingredients, and cooking styles from all around Asia. A Chinatown visit should also allow you to savor some of the more exotic dishes.
A Guide to Some of the Best Restaurants in Chinatown
The best way to experience Chinatown is to take a tour of the neighborhood and sample some of the local restaurants. Here is a guide to some of the most popular places in this iconic New York City neighborhood.
- Great NY Noodletown
The first place to go in Chinatown is Great NY Noodletown. This restaurant is one of the oldest and most famous places in the area and serves a variety of traditional Cantonese specialties, such as shrimp dumplings, Peking duck, and sautéed vegetables.
- Hangawi
Hangawi is another famous restaurant in Chinatown. This upscale Korean restaurant serves up traditional Korean dishes, such as beef stew, braised pork, and bibimbap.
- Nom Wah Tea Parlor
Nom Wah Tea Parlor is a classic dim sum restaurant. With an extensive selection of dishes from dim sum, to noodles, to claypots, to rice dishes, Nom Wah is a must-visit destination in Chinatown.
- Spicy Village
Spicy Village is the place to go for a Szechuan feast. This restaurant serves up a generous selection of Szechuan-style dishes such as spicy dandan noodles, pork friend rice cakes, and mapo tofu.
- Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles
You can’t miss this one stop shop for hand-pulled noodles and Chinese soups. This popular spot serves up soups with fresh dumplings and noodles, all of which are Hand-Pulled in-house and cooked to perfection.
- Vanessa’s Dumpling House
Vanessa’s Dumpling House is a favorite spot in Chinatown. This place specializes in delicious dumplings and baked buns with fillings such as pork and chive, shrimp and scallion, and beef and cabbage.
- Jing Fong Restaurant
Jing Fong is a classic dim sum parlor that serves up a wide selection of pastries, steamed buns, and Cantonese-style dishes.
- New Malaysia Restaurant
New Malaysia Restaurant is the place to go for a Malaysian feast. This restaurant serves up Malaysian specialties such as satay, nasi lemak, char kway teow, and mee goreng.
More Places to Check Out
Of course, there are too many great restaurants in Chinatown to fit on our list. Here are some more places to check out if you are looking to explore this amazing neighborhood.
- Joe’s Shanghai
Joe’s Shanghai is a must if you are looking for delicious soup dumplings. This restaurant is known for its’ xiao long bao, which are steamed soup dumplings filled with pork and crab.
- Vanessa’s Bakery
Vanessa’s Bakery is a great spot for traditional Chinese pastries and desserts. This bakery is known for its’ delicious almond cookies, egg tarts, and pineapple buns.
- Manna
Manna is another top restaurant in Chinatown. This restaurant specializes in Chinese-style vegan dishes, such as sesame noodles and stir-fried vegetables with tofu.
Tips and Tricks for Enjoying Chinatown Restaurants
Chinatown has something to offer to everyone and with so many different places to choose from, it can be overwhelming. Here are some tips and tricks to make the most out of your visit to Chinatown restaurants:
• Research restaurants beforehand: Many restaurants are expensive and don’t accept reservations, so it’s best to research cheaper restaurants beforehand.
• Come with a small group: Smaller restaurants may not be able to accommodate a large group, so it’s best to come in a smaller size.
• Have cash on hand: It’s a good idea to have cash on hand, as many restaurants in Chinatown don’t accept credit cards.
• Try something new: Chinatown restaurants serve a range of traditional dishes from all around Asia. So don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new!
Chinatown is one of New York City’s most iconic neighborhoods and provides a unique cultural and gastronomic experience. Our guide to the best restaurants in Chinatown covers everything from traditional Cantonese dim sum to Malaysian-style vegan dishes. Make sure to visit some of the restaurants on our list to get a real taste of Chinatown. Bon appetit!