New York City boasts many outstanding Chinese restaurants that highlight traditional Chinese fare and the unique creations created by immigrants. Discover authentic Szechuan food in small Chinatown restaurants or indulge in an iconic weekend dim sum brunch service.
Chef Huang Jian Bing & Peking Duck offers delectably well-plated dishes in an upscale yet classic atmosphere, such as their tender pastry-wrapped beef ribs. After dining, try their exquisite chocolate dessert molds.
Spicy Village
Spicy Village, a 10-year Chinatown mainstay, has garnered a loyal fan base due to its delicious Sichuan peppercorn dishes. Try the signature big tray chicken or their soup dumplings – both will bring on an excruciatingly spicy sensation in your mouth! New Spicy Village next door may appear similar; however, it does not share ownership or offer the same menu.
Mala Project offers one of the city’s premier hot pot experiences with 24 medicinal herbs that provide a flavorful yet soothing experience. Their menu features meats, vegetables, noodles, and tofu with customizable spice levels available upon request.
Birds of a Feather offers some of the finest Chinese cuisine, Schezuan-style, in NYC, and its long wait times during peak nights are well worth the wait to taste its tantalizing dishes.
This tiny storefront houses one of NYC’s finest Chinese restaurants. Their menu has a distinctly Southeast Asian influence, featuring dishes with cilantro and scallions for a distinctly Southeast Asian taste in their dumplings; shrimp dumplings in the lime-chile sauce make an exceptional appetizer; Taiwanese beef noodle soup is another stand-out option that should not be missed!
Mala Project
Mala Project, initially established in the East Village and recently expanded with another location in Bryant Park, takes Sichuan cooking very seriously. Their menu boasts unique meat dishes such as lamb stomach, cow tongue, pig kidney, and intestine, and plenty of vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu – perfect accompaniments to their selection of quintessential dim sum, noodles, and specialty rice.
MaLa stands out from other spicy Sichuan restaurants by being more sleek and modern – think Hao Noodle in East Village or Birds of a Feather in Bushwick). It features dark walls, Chinese art, and warm recessed lighting – unlike its counterparts, which often draw crowds wearing flannel tops with thong bottoms and flannel pants or jeans with thong bottoms.
While the restaurant can often be packed, same-day reservations are still available, and peak-night wait times may only take 30 minutes. It offers comfortable extended space seating with red booth seating and wooden tables and photos from Chinatown on display. At its new Greenpoint location, there are some new items on the non-dry-pot pages of its menu, including silky egg custard with minced pork and hearty duck salad – while cocktails like “BenBen’s Wild Days,” with tequila, mango, and bird’s eye chili as well as beers and wines are offered.
Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather stands out from other restaurants in NYC by serving dishes from various regions in China. As a result, their menu provides something for every palate; try their steamed soup dumplings or wontons doused in chili oil; for something meatier, try their stewed pork burger!
This Williamsburg restaurant provides Szechuan cuisine in an airy space with large portions designed to be shared, friendly service, and a BYOB policy.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor in Chinatown is an iconic spot to dine with friends or family, dating back to 1920, and known for its delectable dumplings. Nom Wah is also ideal for trying authentic Chinese cuisine without breaking the bank!
Nan Xiang XLB
Xi’an Famous Foods offers delicious dishes like their stewed pork burger for those in the mood for hand-ripped noodles. Plus, their minimalist vibe features steel tables and oak wood seats!
Nan Xiang, named for the region where xiao long bao (soup dumplings) originated, is an iconic Flushing restaurant renowned for its delectable soup dumplings. They offer signature varieties such as pork and crab, black truffle & pork, gourd luffa with shrimp & pork, as well as thicker skinned dumplings, which provide more cushion for their filling, providing easy breaks-open and slurp-in.
Pinch Chinese at One Fulton Square in Queens is another top choice for high-end Chinese cuisine, boasting an elegant take on classic dishes that has earned it a Bib Gourmand Michelin award. Their menu can be found online, and they have several locations across NYC, with one in Manhattan – making delivery via Postmates simple if you remember to select “pickup” during checkout!
Little Pepper
There are various ways to enjoy Chinese food in NYC. Order takeout from restaurants like Han Dynasty for classic noodles such as dan noodles and cumin lamb, or sample dim sum at Nom Wah, an iconic restaurant that has been in business for over 70 years and features vintage tile floors, red vinyl seats, painted tin ceilings – it has even been used as the set for movies and TV shows!
Atlas Kitchen provides an elegant dining experience, with traditional and modern cuisine influences on its menu. Come here with friends or treat yourself after a long day for dinner!
Little Pepper, a Sichuan restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown, boasts some of the city’s most distinctive tastes. Though its storefront may appear simple, Little Pepper’s interior boasts colorful Chinese artwork and traditional wooden chairs for seating. Their extensive menu boasts everything from udon noodles to seafood noodle soup and spicy options like fried potato with hot sauce or Chongqing chicken dishes – not forgetting an array of tempting beverages to complement their authentic Sichuan fare!
Chef Huang Jian Bing & Peking Duck
Chef Huang Jian Bing & Peking Duck offers sophisticated Chinese cuisine in an intimate, quiet space. Their menu boasts specials that draw regulars back, such as half-pecking duck, fried noodles, and lamb skewers in different sauces – an ideal spot for families in NYC looking for Chinese food.
Peking Duck has won many fans worldwide, from lavish nightclubs to West Village basement operations and everywhere in between. Many restaurants serve variations on this imperial Mandarin delicacy – for an authentic Peking duck experience, don’t miss this classic spot in midtown that serves up deliciously crispy birds with hoisin sauce and delicate pancakes -.
Brooklyn’s Yunnan Restaurant is an intimate, cozy eatery serving some of the best Chinese cuisine in NYC. They specialize in classics like ginger scallion lobster, chicken feet dishes, and more unique offerings like ginger scallion risotto. Perfect for families or dates alike, their spacious dining area features wooden tables, booth seating, and decor reminiscent of traditional China, such as sculpted faux trees and paper lanterns reminiscent of old China.
Blue Willow
Uluh is an elegant yet classic Chinese eatery in Manhattan that provides a casual environment to experience some of the best Chinese food. Their menu boasts dishes from both northern and southern China, as well as seafood and vegetarian offerings. Plus, it has an expansive dining room perfect for hosting groups of friends or enjoying a romantic date night in NYC. Their dim decor also features unique Chinese art and warm recessed lighting, creating an upscale environment.
The name Blue Willow stems from an epic tale of star-crossed lovers: Koong-se and Chang were deeply in love when their paths crossed at her father’s estate. Unfortunately, her father ordered that they part ways, but the couple continued meeting regularly at a willow tree; their devotion touched the gods, who immortalized them both as doves to fly through the skies always.
The restaurant‘s decor pays homage to this history by featuring plates adorned with the Blue Willow pattern, first designed in 1780 by English engraver Thomas Minton and considered an example of chinoiserie, which blends European and Chinese decorative elements. Hunan cuisine influences many dishes here, with ingredients preserved using smoking, drying, and pickling techniques, resulting in intense flavors.