Where to Eat in Chinatown NY: 10 best restaurants

There's no place like Chinatown for dining in New York, especially if you love Asian food. On every street, there’s a restaurant where you can get a taste of Eastern culture and savor the best of authentic Chinese cuisine.

Here’s a list of the 10 best restaurants to keep in mind after your Chinatown tour so you can eat like an emperor—and best of all, at very affordable prices! Are you in?

If you’re a fan of spicy food, one of the must-visit stops after your Chinatown tour is Xi’an Famous Foods. This restaurant specializes in the traditional cuisine of Xi’an, an ancient city in central China that played a significant role in the famous Silk Road.

With its dishes, Xi’an Famous Foods transports you to the Far East in a single bite. The menu offers a wide variety of options to choose from, but the lamb and cumin burger, meatballs, dumplings, and handmade noodles are spectacular. I recommend pairing it with a delicious iced jasmine tea.

This spot located at 45 Bayard Street is the perfect place for a quick stop to grab a tasty and affordable meal. The service is lightning-fast, so if you’re really hungry, they’ll serve you right away.

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If you’re looking for an old-school Cantonese restaurant, Big Wing Wong is the place for you. This isn’t your typical tourist-trap Chinese restaurant; it’s a spot where locals also come to enjoy delicious food, making it a perfect choice after a tour of Chinatown.

Big Wing Wong’s menu is quite extensive, and the portions are generous. You won’t leave here hungry. The wontons, roast duck, and fried rice are fantastic, but I highly recommend trying the dim sum here, as it’s among the best in New York.

This spot is always packed in Chinatown, but the service is efficient and the prices are affordable. By the way, if you want to learn more about how the pricing and tipping system works, this article has more details (plus a long list of great places to eat in New York).

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If you’re vegetarian and touring Chinatown, I recommend stopping by Buddha Bodai for lunch, as you’ll find an extensive menu full of delicious dishes that capture the essence of traditional Chinese cuisine. Even if you don’t follow a vegetarian diet, you’ll love it because the food is incredibly flavorful.

Most dishes cost less than $15, so you can eat in the heart of the neighborhood without spending too much money. I recommend trying the spring rolls, dumplings, dim sum, or the various noodle dishes. Oh! And the vegetarian versions of chicken, lamb, or duck are really well done.

Buddha Bodai is a very popular spot, and you’ll often find people lining up on the street to get in. Fortunately, the service is efficient, and they’ll seat you right away. You’ll find it at 5 Mott Street, near Columbus Park.

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Have you ever found yourself traveling with friends and unable to agree on where to eat? Food halls are an excellent solution to this problem, and fortunately, there are many restaurants in New York where you can enjoy a meal after finishing your tour of Chinatown.

Located at 265 Canal Street, Canal Street Market is a food hall specializing in Asian cuisine—perfect for dining if you’re visiting the city with family or a large group of friends and everyone wants to order a different dish.

This place features several Japanese, Korean, and Chinese food stalls offering a wide variety of dishes for under $15. You’ll want to try a lot of things, so go on an empty stomach! Plus, at Canal Street Market, you can choose to eat your meal right there if it’s a rainy day or order takeout for a picnic in Columbus Park if it’s sunny.

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To enjoy the authentic flavors of Taiwanese cuisine after your Chinatown tour, there’s no better place than Taiwan Pork Chop House. Located at 3 Doyers St., this restaurant is known for its pleasant atmosphere and the wide variety of flavors in its dishes.

The menu at Pork Chop House is quite extensive, and you’ll be able to try a wide range of specialties. I recommend the chicken curry noodle soup, Shanghai-style fried rice, and Taiwanese kimchi. And if you have room for dessert, be sure to try the Taiwanese ice cream!

Prices are affordable (many dishes cost less than $10), and the staff is friendly and efficient. Without a doubt, a great place to enjoy Taiwanese cuisine during a visit to Chinatown.

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This small, simple restaurant is perfect if you want to take a break after your Chinatown tour to grab a quick bite—a snack, really—without missing out on trying some Chinese culinary specialties. In fact, Fried Dumpling is famous for its delicious homemade dumplings at low prices (6 pieces for $2). It’s possibly the cheapest spot you’ll find in this part of the city.

Since the Fried Dumplings shop is quite small, I recommend ordering some dumplings to go and eating them in Columbus Park while soaking up the sun, but if you prefer to eat them there, you can do so at the counter.

They prepare them right in front of you, and although some staff members don’t speak English, if you point to the flavors you want, they’ll understand, and they serve you quickly.

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Bo Ky is synonymous with delicious soups, but it’s also a great place to try different Teochew, Chinese, and Vietnamese dishes that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

Everything is delicious! The gyoza, spring rolls, duck soup, vegetables… and the best part is that most of these dishes cost less than $10 each. The service is fast, too. What more could you ask for?

Bo Ky is another restaurant frequented by locals that you can add to your itinerary through Chinatown. It’s common to share a table during lunchtime here, so don’t be surprised if a stranger sits next to you.

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This Chinatown restaurant is another one of those places where you won’t have to break the bank to eat like a king. Quite the opposite! At Spice Village, you can enjoy delicious Chinese food until you’re full without spending more than $10 per person.

A tip? Order several dishes to share if you’re in a group. That way, you can sample a wide variety of dishes like the spicy chicken platter, spicy Hu Mei lamb, pork dumpling soup, or beef pancakes.

The restaurant is small and cozy. Thanks to both the flavors and the atmosphere, Spice Village takes your senses on a brief journey to Asia. A must-visit!

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Just so there’s no doubt, this restaurant’s specialty is right in its name: a mouthwatering, juicy, and crispy Peking duck that will make your mouth water. However, the menu also features many other Chinese dishes like sweet and sour pork, three-delicacies rice, shrimp, dim sum, and much more if you want to try a little bit of everything.

The portions at Peking Duck House are generous, and the prices are a bit higher compared to other restaurants in Chinatown, though it’s well worth it. The restaurant is spacious, the service is good, and the atmosphere is welcoming.

In short, you have to make time for it before or after your Chinatown tour. When you’re done, you’ll leave feeling happy and recharged, ready to continue your journey through New York.

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Don’t be surprised if, while walking down Mott Street, you come across a very long line of people waiting to get into this restaurant, because Shanghai 21 is one of the best in Chinatown, both for the flavor and the presentation of its dishes.

Don’t let the line discourage you because the staff serves quickly. The wait will be worth it when you have their famous dumplings right in front of you. You’ll forget all about the wait! The menu is quite extensive and features a wide variety of dishes such as spicy chicken, fried noodles, Shanghai-style spring rolls, or fried rice with beef, among many others.

The quality of the dishes is excellent and the portions are generous, so during your visit to Chinatown, I recommend including the Shanghai 21 restaurant on your Chinatown itinerary. You won’t regret it!

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