Chinatown Food Guide
3 Days in New York Chinatown
A tightly walkable three-day crawl through Manhattan's Chinatown — century-old dim sum, hand-ripped noodles, roast meats hanging in windows, and a proper Peking duck to close it out.
Day 1
Dim Sum & Chinatown Classics
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
The oldest dim sum parlor in NYC, tucked on the crook of Doyers Street since 1920. Order off the paper checklist — everything is made to order, no rolling carts here.
Must Order
- Original OG egg roll
- Shrimp & snow pea leaf dumplings
- House-special roast pork bun
- Turnip cake
Pro Tip: Get there by 10:30 AM on weekends or expect a 45-minute wait. Doyers Street itself is a photo op.
Joe's Shanghai
The spot that put xiao long bao on the New York map. Communal tables, brusque service, and soup dumplings that arrive dangerously hot and full of broth.
Must Order
- Pork soup dumplings (xiao long bao)
- Crab & pork soup dumplings
- Scallion pancake
- Shanghai-style pork chop rice cakes
Pro Tip: Bite a small hole, sip the soup, then eat. Don't skip the crab XLB — they're the reason to come.
Wo Hop
Down a flight of stairs on Mott, this red-walled basement has been feeding cabbies, cops, and post-bar New Yorkers since 1938. Old-school Cantonese-American done exactly as it should be.
Must Order
- Roast pork lo mein
- House special chow mein
- Egg foo young
- Wonton soup
Pro Tip: Open until 4 AM. Cash-friendly. Ask for hot mustard — it's ferocious.
Day 2
Regional Deep Dive
Fay Da Bakery
A Chinatown morning ritual: hot milk tea and a tray of pillowy buns for a few dollars. Fay Da's been the neighborhood bakery for decades.
Must Order
- Roast pork bun (char siu bao)
- Pineapple bun with butter
- Egg tart
- Iced Hong Kong milk tea
Pro Tip: Grab a paper bag of pastries for the walk — you'll want backups. Cash speeds up the line.
Xi'an Famous Foods
Jason Wang's hand-ripped noodles turned a Flushing basement stall into a NYC empire. The Bayard Street counter is fast, spicy, and unforgettable.
Must Order
- Spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles
- Stewed pork burger (roujiamo)
- Liang pi cold-skin noodles
- Spicy & tingly beef biang biang
Pro Tip: Order at the register, grab a seat, and don't wear white — chili oil is inevitable.
Great N.Y. Noodletown
Fluorescent lights, no reservations, and some of the best roast meats in the city hanging in the window. A late-night Chinatown institution.
Must Order
- Salt-baked seafood (soft-shell crab in season)
- Roast baby pig over rice
- Duck & roast pork double platter
- Flowering chive dumplings
Pro Tip: Open until 3:30 AM. Ask for whatever's freshest on the hook — the roast pork belly is the sleeper hit.
Day 3
Sweets, Malaysian & Peking Duck
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Family-run since 1978, this Bayard Street shop makes Asian-flavored scoops you won't find anywhere else in the neighborhood. Yes, ice cream for breakfast is allowed on this trip.
Must Order
- Black sesame
- Almond cookie
- Lychee sorbet
- Pandan
Pro Tip: Get a two-scoop combo and eat it on Columbus Park bench while watching the morning tai chi.
Nyonya
A Chinatown detour into Malaysian-Chinese Peranakan cooking — bold curries, coconut rice, and satay in a bustling, no-frills dining room.
Must Order
- Roti canai with curry chicken dip
- Beef rendang
- Nasi lemak
- Hainanese chicken rice
Pro Tip: Cash only. Split dishes family-style — the menu is huge and every table looks like a feast.
Peking Duck House
The Chinatown spot for whole-roasted Peking duck, carved tableside and served with warm pancakes, scallions, and hoisin. A proper end-of-trip dinner.
Must Order
- Whole Peking duck (carved tableside)
- Sautéed pea shoots with garlic
- Shanghai soup dumplings
- Salt & pepper shrimp
Pro Tip: Reserve ahead and pre-order the duck when you book — it takes time to prepare properly.