Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings
15 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Pan Fried Pork Dumplings — $$; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Cheap
Must Go
Xi'an Famous Foods
45 Bayard S (Manhattan)
Order: Mt. Qi Pork Hand-Ripped Noodles — $$; Walk-in friendly
Authentic
Very Popular
Xi'an-Style
Must Go
Din Tai Fung
1633 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Sweet & Sour Baby Back Ribs — $$$; Res recommended
Very Popular
Lively
Must Go
Din Tai Fung
1633 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Shrimp Fried Rice — $$$; Res recommended
Very Popular
Lively
Must Go
Jin Mei Dumpling
25B Henry St B (Manhattan)
Order: Fried Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Hidden Gem
Cheap
Must Go
Types & Places (Favorites)
Diving into New York City’s incredible Chinese culinary scene is easy when you know exactly where to head for every meal. From warm morning pork buns and freshly steamed dim sum to deeply satisfying midday noodle bowls and show-stopping, multi-course dinners, this spotlights the must-visit destinations for every craving.
Top Breakfast Spots
Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings
15 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Pan Fried Pork Dumplings — $$; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Cheap
Super Taste
26 Eldridge St (Manhattan)
Order: Hot Sesame Noodles — $; Walk-in friendly
Authentic
The Mandarin
113 Madison St (Manhattan)
Order: Matcha — $; Walk-in friendly
Broad Asian Mixed
Vibrant
Noodle Village
70 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Wonton Noodle Soup — $$; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Trandtional
Sun Hing Lung
58 Henry St (Manhattan)
Order: Pork Rice Roll — $; Walk-in friendly
Cantonese
Diverse
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
295 Grand S (Manhattan)
Order: Pork & Chive Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Authentic
Classic
Fu Zhou Wei Zhong
88 E Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Steamed Buns — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Mei Lai Wah
41 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Har Gow — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Traditional
North Dumplings
23 Essex St (Manhattan)
Order: Beef Noodle Soup — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Top Lunch Spots
Xi'an Famous Foods
45 Bayard S (Manhattan)
Order: Mt. Qi Pork Hand-Ripped Noodles — $$; Walk-in friendly
Authentic
Very Popular
Xi'an-Style
Very Fresh Noodles
409 W 15th St (Manhattan)
Order: La Mei Taiwanese Beef Noodle — $$; Walk-in friendly
Very Popular
Taiwanese Mixed
Maxi's Noodle
135-11 38th Ave (Queens)
Order: Wonton Noodle Soup — $$; Walk-in friendly
Cozy
Peking Duck Sandwich Stall
137-28 40th Rd (Queens)
Order: Peking Duck Bao — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Beautiful Interior
Alley 41
136-45 41st Ave (Queens)
Order: Double Cooked Pork Belly — $$; Walk-in friendly
Sichuan
Sleek
Wo Hop
17 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Roast Duck (Half) — $$; Walk-in friendly
Gem
Family-Owned
Bo Ky
80 Bayard St (Manhattan)
Order: Country Style Chicken & Curry Noodle Soup — $; Walk-in friendly
Vietnamese Mixed
Popular
Wah Fung No.1
79 Chrystie St (Manhattan)
Order: Roast Pork Over Rice — $; Walk-in friendly
Cantonese
Popular
Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Spicy Mushroom Ramen With Pork Belly — $$$; Res recommended
Broader Asian Mixed
Popular
The Bao
13 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Shanghai Noodles — $$; Walk-in friendly
Diverse
Bonnie's
398 Manhattan Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Rib Sandwich On Milk Bun — $$$; Res recommended
American Mixed
Cantonese
Top Dinner Spots
Din Tai Fung
1633 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Sweet & Sour Baby Back Ribs — $$$; Res recommended
Very Popular
Lively
Potluck Club
133 Chrystie St (Manhattan)
Order: Oyster Mushroom Rice Roll Noodles With Hanger Steak — $$$; Res recommended
American Mixed
Popular
Izakaya
by Antidote
30 E 20th St (Manhattan)
Order: Braised Pork Belly — $$$; Res recommended
Popular
Mountain House
23 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Order: La Zi Chicken — $$$; Res recommended
Authentic
Sichuan
Jue Lan Club
49 W 20th St (Manhattan)
Order: Rock Shrimp — $$$; Res recommended
Modern
Upscale
Chinese Tuxedo
5 Doyers St (Manhattan)
Order: Crispy Eggplant — $$$$; Res recommended
Very Popular
Upscale
TAO Downtown
92 9th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Orange Chicken — $$$$; Res recommended
Broader Asian Mixed
Very Popular
Upscale
uluh
152A 2nd Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Braised Pork Belly — $$$; Res recommended
Cozy
Popular
Vanessa's Dumpling House
118A Eldridge St (Manhattan)
Order: Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Vegan Options
Spicy Moon
265 Bowery (Manhattan)
Order: Dan Dan Noodle — $$; Res recommended
Plant-Based
Szechuan
Vegan Options
Pinch
177 Prince St (Manhattan)
Order: Ma Po Tofu — $$$; Res recommended
Modern
Traditional
Photos for Chinese desserts spots will be added soon!
Types & Places (Secondaries)
On certain days, few things hit the spot quite like a heaping plate of tossed fried rice or perfectly steamed soup dumplings. From takeout joints serving crispy, pan-fried dumplings to modern dining rooms serving rice dishes, discover the top Chinese dumpling and fried rice destinations across the city.
Top Fried Rice Spots
Din Tai Fung
1633 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Shrimp Fried Rice — $$$; Res recommended
Very Popular
Lively
Jue Lan Club
49 W 20th St (Manhattan)
Order: Fried Rice — $$$; Res recommended
Modern
Upscale
Alley 41
136-45 41st Ave (Queens)
Order: House Fried Rice — $$; Walk-in friendly
Sichuan
Sleek
Wo Hop
17 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Roast Pork Fried Rice — $$; Walk-in friendly
Gem
Family-Owned
by Antidote
30 E 20th St (Manhattan)
Order: Fried Rice — $$$; Res recommended
Popular
Pinch
177 Prince St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak Fried Rice — $$$; Res recommended
Modern
Traditional
Top Dumpling Spots
Jin Mei Dumpling
25B Henry St B (Manhattan)
Order: Fried Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Hidden Gem
Cheap
TAO Downtown
92 9th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Steamed Dumplings — $$$$; Res recommended
Broader Asian Mixed
Very Popular
Upscale
QQ Cafe
67A E Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Fried Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Authentic
Super Taste
26 Eldridge St (Manhattan)
Order: Steamed Pork & Chive Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Authentic
Fu Zhou Wei Zhong
88 E Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Steamed Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Vanessa's Dumpling House
118A Eldridge St (Manhattan)
Order: Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Vegan Options
King Dumplings
74 Hester St (Manhattan)
Order: Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Cozy
Popular
North Dumplings
21 Division St (Manhattan)
Order: Pork & Chive Dumpling — $; Walk-in friendly
Popular
Pinch
177 Prince St (Manhattan)
Order: Chicken Soup Dumplings — $$$; Res recommended
Modern
Traditional
Lin & Daughters
55 W 26th St (Manhattan)
Order: Pan Fried Cumin Beef Dumplings — $$; Walk-in friendly
Cozy
Popular
Areas
Discover the standout Chinese neighborhood spots across Chinatown, the East Village, and the Lower East Side. Whether you are craving a quick midday plate of hand-ripped noodles or a reservation for a vibrant, modern Chinese food, these destinations deliver every culinary essential from morning to night.
Chinatown
New Cameron Bakery
242 Canal St (Manhattan)
Order: Baked Pork Bun — $; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Bakery
Mei Lai Wah
41 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Pineapple Pork Bun — $; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Popular
Traditional
Sun Hing Lung
58 Henry St (Manhattan)
Order: Pork & Beef & Shrimp Rice Roll — $; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Cantonese
Diverse
Noodle Village
70 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Wonton Noodle Soup — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Popular
Trandtional
Ping
22 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Peking Duck — $$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Cantonese
Seafood
Popular
Xi'an Famous Foods
45 Bayard S (Manhattan)
Order: Mt. Qi Pork Hand-Ripped Noodles — $$; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Authentic
Very Popular
Xi'an-Style
H K Wonton Garden
79 Mulberry St (Manhattan)
Order: Pork & Wonton Soup — $$; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Popular
Hay Hay Roasted
81 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Hay Hay Trio — $$; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Huge Portions
Chinese Tuxedo
5 Doyers St (Manhattan)
Order: Lobster Noodles — $$$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Very Popular
Upscale
Wo Hop
17 Mott St (Manhattan)
Order: Wo Hop Lo Mein — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dinner
Gem
Family-Owned
Tasty Hand
1 Doyers St (Manhattan)
Order: Beef Noodle Soup — $; Walk-in friendly
Dinner
Traditional
Variety
The Original Chinatown Ice Cream
65 Bayard St (Manhattan)
Order: Ice Cream — $; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
Very Popular
Prince Tea House
134 Bowery St (Manhattan)
Order: Molten Lava Cake — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
French Mixed
East Village / Alphabet City + Lower East Side
Little Kirin
81 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Lap Cheong With Egg & Cheese — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Broad Asian Mixed
Han Dynasty
98 3rd Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Dan Dan Noodles — $$; Res recommended
Breakfast
Popular
Classic
The Mandarin
113 Madison St (Manhattan)
Order: Matcha — $; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Broad Asian Mixed
Vibrant
Super Taste
26 Eldridge St (Manhattan)
Order: Steamed Pork & Chive Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Authentic
Wah Fung No.1
79 Chrystie St (Manhattan)
Order: Roast Pork Over Rice — $; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Cantonese
Popular
King Dumplings
74 Hester St (Manhattan)
Order: Dumplings — $; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Popular
Loong Noodles
28 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Dry Mix Beef Noodles — $$; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Popular
Quality
TIPSY SHANGHAI
104 2nd Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Dongpo Pork — $$; Res recommended
Lunch
Popular
The Dolar Shop Hot Pot
55 3rd Ave (Manhattan)
Order: House-Made Shrimp Pâté — $$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Popular
Upscale
CHELI MANHATTAN
19 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Braised Pork Belly With Quail Eggs — $$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Upscale
Shanghainese
Potluck Club
133 Chrystie St (Manhattan)
Order: Fried Chicken With Scallion Biscuits — $$$; Res recommended
Dinner
American Mixed
Popular
Izakaya
Cafe 2BY2
84 E 10th St, Floor 2 (Manhattan)
Order: Oreo Tiramisu — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
Sleek
Prince Tea House
204 E 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
French Mixed
Occasions
New York City’s Chinese dining and nightlife scene offers a perfect match for any occasion on your schedule. Whether you are together for a lively celebration, planning an unforgettable evening for two, or simply grabbing a fast, flavorful bite on the run, discover the curated picks categorized by social events, romantic dates, and specific moods.
Dates
Best Overall
Chinese Tuxedo
5 Doyers St (Manhattan)
This former opera house turned transportive, bi-level dining room pairs striking elegance with vibrant, modern Chinese dishes. It effortlessly shifts from a sophisticated early meal to a high-energy, unforgettable night out. It is an absolute must for a truly elevated romantic evening.
Date Night
First Date
Anniversary Dinner
Date Night
CheLi
19 St Marks Pl (Manhattan)
Spicy Moon
265 Bowery (Manhattan)
First Date
Wonton Noodle
56 Mott St (Manhattan)
Lin & Daughters
181 W 4th St (Manhattan)
Anniversary Dinner
Pinch Chinese
177 Prince St (Manhattan)
Buddakan
75 9th Ave (Manhattan)
Mood
Best Overall
Wah Fung No.1
79 Chrystie St (Manhattan)
Famous for its massive, overflowing boxes of roasted meats, this incredibly affordable takeout spot delivers unbeatable value and bold flavor. It smoothly transitions from a lightning-fast midday pick-me-up to a deeply satisfying, budget-friendly meal on the run. It is an absolute standout for a quick and cheap bite.
Cheap
On The Go
Cheap
Mixue
37-11 Main St (Queens)
New Kim Tuong
83 Chrystie St (Manhattan)
On The Go
Hay Hay Roasted
81 Mott St (Manhattan)
Eight Jane
119 E 7th St (Manhattan)
Must Knows
Must-know basics so you’re not guessing on tipping, menu lingo, or how to book.
Reservations
Before you fall in love with the menu, make sure you’ve got the res
Decoding the menu
Liangcai (凉菜) / Cold Dishes — chilled starters; cucumbers, smashed garlic eggplant, jellyfish, tofu salads.
Appetizers / Small Plates — quick bites to start; often dumplings, scallion pancakes, crispy wings.
Dim Sum (点心) / Dian Xin — “little heart” bites; har gow, siu mai, buns, rice rolls (usually order by the piece/basket).
Bao (包) / Baozi — steamed buns; can be cha siu bao (BBQ pork) or sweet custard buns.
Jiaozi (饺子) / Dumplings — boiled/steamed dumplings; pork-chive is classic.
Guo Tie (锅贴) / Potstickers — pan-fried dumplings; crisp bottom.
Xiao Long Bao (小笼包) — soup dumplings; bite, sip, then eat (often comes in a steamer basket).
Wonton (馄饨) — smaller dumplings; usually in soup or tossed with chili oil.
Roast Meats (烧味) / Siu Mei — “hanging in the window” BBQ.
Clay Pot (煲仔) / Bao Zai — clay-pot rice or braises.
Hot Pot (火锅) / Huo Guo — simmering broth table-cook meal.
Dry Pot (干锅) / Gan Guo — stir-fried “hot pot flavors” without the soup; spicy.
Tips
Standard tip for sit-down restaurants
In NYC, 18–22% of the pre-tax bill is considered normal for good service. 15% is low; 25%+ is very generous.
Why tipping matters
Servers and bartenders are paid a lower base wage because tips are expected here, so the tip is a big part of their income.
Check for built-in gratuity
Some places (especially for large groups or trendy spots) add “gratuity” or “service charge” automatically. If you see that on the bill, you don’t need to add an additional tip unless you want to.
Social
Best Overall
Din Tai Fung
1633 Broadway (Manhattan)
Hidden along a vibrant Chinatown street and known for its stunning, bi-level dining room, this stylish hotspot pairs striking elegance with bold, modern dishes. It is perfect for early dinner to an undeniably buzzy, unforgettable night out. It is an absolute must for a truly elevated romantic evening.
Women Night Out
Men Night Out
Birthday With Friends
Pre Club
Women Night Out
Buddakan
75 9th Ave (Manhattan)
Ye's Apothecary
119 Orchard St (Manhattan)
Men Night Out
TAO Downtown
92 9th Ave (Manhattan)
Jue Lan Club
49 W 20th St (Manhattan)
Birthday With Friends
Buddakan
75 9th Ave (Manhattan)
Potluck Club
133 Chrystie St (Manhattan)
Pre Club
Opera House
5 Doyers St (Manhattan)
Ye's Apothecary
119 Orchard St (Manhattan)