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$$$ | Flushing |
Flushing has plenty of casual sit-down spots and street-style hawker stands, but Guan Fu is on another level, presenting legitimately tongue-tingling, lip-burning Sichuan dishes in an elegant, upscale environment. The mapo tofu, a staple of any good Sichuan restaurant, is impeccable over rice, and the boiled fish is a soupy symphony of spicy and sour flavors. What’s more, this restaurant pays homage to the classic Chinese American restaurants of old with its bamboo screens, elaborate metal serving ware, and two lion statues outside.
39-16 Prince St., Queens, New York, 11354, USA
Known For
- Upscale, elegant atmosphere
- "mala" numbing and spicy flavors
- Formal service, for Flushing
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For unbeatable cheap eats, take a slight detour off 8th Avenue to this small and unassuming restaurant. Its sparse dining room doesn’t offer much in the way of atmosphere, but the four-for-a-dollar pork-and-leek dumplings are a real deal (and delicious). Other deliciously affordable fare includes scallion pancakes, steamed buns, and beef noodle soup. You'd be hard-pressed to spend more than $10 for a filling meal here.
4801 8th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11220, USA
Known For
- Inexpensive eats
- Fast service
- Bustling atmosphere
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$ | Flushing |
Originally a tiny stall in an underground mall, Helen You's restaurant has expanded to become a banquet-size space with a colorful accompanying cookbook. The gargantuan menu can seem overwhelming, but it's a thrilling testament to just how varied the definition of "dumpling" can be. Be sure to leave room for sweet dessert dumplings.
42-35 Main St., Queens, New York, 11355, USA
Known For
- Fried and steamed dumplings, from vegetarian options to all kinds of meat and seafood
- Dessert dumplings such as strawberry sesame
- Banquet-style space
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For a traditional dim sum brunch experience, this Sunset Park Chinatown institution is a good bet for high quality and variety. Not much English is spoken, so be ready to take a guess and point at whichever plates look good as servers wheel them on carts through the cavernous restaurant. Local families with young children pack this place so the atmosphere can be chaotic but great fun. Arrive early on weekend mornings, or expect a long wait.
714 65th St., Brooklyn, New York, 11220, USA
Known For
- Weekend dim sum
- Friendly and noisy
- Fresh and tasty dishes
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$$ | Chinatown |
Although the soups and the noodle options are consistently excellent at this no-frills restaurant, what you should really order here are dishes that involve the hanging lacquered ducks and other window "decorations." These are listed on a simple board and superbly served with pungent garlic-and-ginger sauce on the side. Seasonal specialties like duck with flowering chives and salt-baked soft-shell crabs are memorable.
28 Bowery, New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- Excellent Peking duck
- Affordable and tasty Chinese food
- Lively atmosphere
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Flushing |
As diners have become more aware of regional Asian dishes, hot pot has come to play a large role in cuisines that are more like communal experiences. Here, the whole idea is to go with a group, and the practice of gathering around the broth and chatting as you dip sliced marbled meats, seafood, tofu, and veggies into it to cook, achieves the status of ritual. The boiling soup is split down the middle, and it’s advisable to get both spicy and mild options, so you can alternate between fiery and soothing flavors.
136--59 37th Ave., Queens, New York, 11354, USA
Known For
- Half-and-half spicy and mild broth
- High-quality meat
- Mongolian food
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$$ | Chinatown |
The legendary Jing Fong restaurant, which could seat 800, moved into a (relatively) smaller space after the pandemic (it now seats about 125) but the dim sum and other favorite dishes still draw legions of fans, especially for weekend brunch. The dim sum carts still rove between the tables, with goodies that range from the familiar (barbecue pork buns and rice rolls) to more adventurous items like chicken feet, tripe, and snails.
202 Centre St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- Casual but classy decor
- Dim sum
- Crowds on weekends
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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$$ | Chinatown |
Joe opened his first Shanghai restaurant in Queens in 1994, but buoyed by the accolades showered on his steamed soup dumplings—filled with a rich, fragrant broth and ground pork or a pork-crabmeat mixture—a Manhattan Chinatown location followed in 1995. After 25 years, it's moved to a new spot not far from the original and although the space is modern and updated, the food is just what fans have been raving about for years.
46 Bowery, New York, New York, 10013-5134, USA
Known For
- Shanghai soup dumplings
- Cash only
- Fast-moving line
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$$ | |
Dishes are served family style at Sunset Park's go-to spot for Cantonese cuisine so you'll get the most out of a visit if you come here with a large group and share appetizers and entrées. Try the signature dish: the Pride of Lucky Eight, a seafood stir-fry with abalone, squid, and scallops. The lunch special—three dishes for less than $20—is a steal.
5204 8th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11220, USA
Known For
- Roast duck is a favorite
- Popular with local families
- Bargain lunch specials
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Diners at this fun, casual restaurant cook their meals at the table, dunking seafood, meat, and vegetables into hot broth. Hotpot meals are meant for sharing, so it's best to come with a group. Be sure to try both the spicy and regular broths, and order a selection of dipping items from fish balls and sliced pork belly to fried tofu skin and lotus root. With its modern decor and pop-music sound track, Mister Hotpot stands out in the neighborhood.
5306 8th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11220, USA
Known For
- Great broth
- Fun group experience
- Gets very busy on weekends
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$ | Chinatown |
Dim sum is traditionally served in the morning but if you have a craving at another time, head to this old-school spot in the heart of Chinatown, where dumplings, turnip cakes, rice rolls, and a variety of other small plates are available from early until late in the evening. Nom Wah started out as a tea parlor and bakery in 1920, just a few doors down, and only later started specializing in dim sum, and there's still an impressive selection of specialty tea on the menu.
13 Doyers St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- Good selection of wine and beer
- Busy on weekends
- Friendly but bustling service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed., Accepts American Express only
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$$ | SoHo |
You'll want to check out the menu at this chic SoHo spot that's more than a "pinch" above the average Chinese joint thanks to its perfect dumplings and supertasty versions of mapo tofu, three-cup chicken, seafood fried rice, and many other classics. The wine and cocktail list are thoughtfully chosen to pair with the flavorful food.
177 Prince St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Soup dumplings
- Prices are more SoHo than Chinatown
- Fabulous Peking duck, but it must be preordered
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Chelsea |
This sleek restaurant hails from the family of the Chinese immigrant (Mr. Shorty Tang himself) who introduced New York to Sichuan cuisine in the 1960s. The Chelsea spot, as the name suggests, focuses on plus-size bowls of noodle-laced soups, like the excellent braised beef noodle soup, as well as the signature cold sesame noodles. The soup dumplings, or xiao long bao, are also good here.
98 8th Ave., New York, New York, 10011, USA
Known For
- Affordable Chinese fare
- Soup dumplings
- Friendly service
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$$$ | Midtown East |
If you want inexpensive Cantonese food without pretension, head to Chinatown; if you prefer to be pampered, then come to this place, which has been serving classic Chinese fare since 1971 in an elegant space done in red and gold. Supposedly, the dish orange beef was first made here, and indeed, it's worth a sample, but there's so much more. Beijing panfried dumplings make a good starter, and rack of lamb Sichuan-style, grilled with scallions and garlic, is a popular entrée. Beijing duck, served table-side with thin pancakes, is a signature dish here for good reason.
155 E. 55th St., New York, New York, 10022-4038, USA
Known For
- Upscale Chinese food
- Sichuan-style rack of lamb
- Beijing duck
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sat.
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$ | Chinatown |
The name says it all: the open kitchen at this salt-of-the-earth Chinatown restaurant (located on charming, curved Doyers Street) means you can watch the noodle slinger in action while awaiting your bowl of, yes, tasty hand-pulled noodles. Just choose your ingredients—beef, pork, oxtail, eel, chicken, lamb, or shrimp, among others—and prepare to eat the most delicious bowl of noodles since that last trip to Shanghai.
1 Doyers St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- Good variety of options
- Small space
- Hand-pulled noodles
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$ | Lower East Side |
Some of the best deals in the neighborhood can be found here, with sizzling pork-and-chive dumplings (four for $3) and plenty of vegetarian options. This is a casual, order-at-the counter spot with a few tables.
118 Eldridge St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Excellent dumplings
- Very budget-friendly
- Popular stop before a night of barhopping
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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After one bite of Wong Good’s springy and tender hand-pulled noodles, you’ll understand why area residents depend on this place for a quick and hearty meal. This unadorned shop doesn’t offer much in the way of atmosphere or seating, but it’s fun to watch as cooks pull noodles to order for the soup dishes.
5924 8th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11220, USA
Known For
- Busy all day
- Good selection of noodles and soups
- Good for a quick meal
