Best Chinese Restaurants in Lower East Side (10002)
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Jiang Nan - NYC
Modern Sichuan-leaning banquet dishes in a polished, cocktail-friendly setting.
Notable Picks
8.4
Jiang Nan brings high-energy, contemporary Sichuan and regional Chinese cooking to a sleek Bowery space, with showpiece dishes like Peking duck and spicy fish sharing the stage with cocktails. Locals treat it as a destination for group feasts and celebratory nights when they want bolder flavors than the neighborhood’s old-school banquet halls.
Must-Try Dishes:
Peking Duck, Spicy Fish Fillet in Chili Oil, Cumin Lamb Chops
What makes it special: Modern Sichuan-leaning banquet dishes in a polished, cocktail-friendly setting.
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is a bare-bones Fujianese counter known for cheap dumplings, springy hand-pulled noodles, and peanut-sesame dressed cold noodles. It’s one of the neighborhood’s most reliable stops for a fast, filling bowl or plate under the cost of a cocktail nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork and Chive Dumplings, Peanut Butter Noodles, Beef Noodle Soup
What makes it special: Fujianese dumplings and noodles that define budget Chinatown comfort.
8.3
Wah Fung No. 1 serves overflowing styrofoam boxes of char siu, roast duck, and rice that draw constant lines to its tiny Chrystie Street storefront. Locals and visitors alike treat it as a benchmark for Cantonese roast meats on a serious budget.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roast Pork over Rice, Roast Duck over Rice, Roast Pork and Duck Combo Plate
What makes it special: Legendary Chinatown roast meats piled high over rice for cash-only prices.
#4
Fong On
8.2
Fong On is a nearly century-old family tofu shop reborn on Division Street, serving warm tofu pudding, rice cakes, and soy milk made fresh daily. It bridges old and new Chinatown, attracting both longtime regulars and dessert-hunting visitors with silky douhua and chewy sweets.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet Tofu Pudding (Douhua), Savory Tofu Pudding with Pickled Radish, Assorted Steamed Rice Cakes
What makes it special: Oldest family-run tofu shop in NYC serving ultra-fresh douhua and rice cakes.
Worthy Picks
#5
Zongzi Lady
7.9
Often referred to simply as “Zongzi Lady,” this sidewalk vendor near Grand Street sells bamboo-wrapped sticky rice dumplings packed with pork, peanuts, and salted egg. Regulars treat it as a grab-and-go ritual before work, errands, or a night out nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Savory Pork and Peanut Zongzi, Salted Egg Pork Zongzi, Sweet Red Bean Zongzi
What makes it special: Homemade-style zongzi sold straight from a steamer basket on the street.
7.9
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Comfort Food Classics
Hidden Gems Heaven
Wu’s Wonton King is a BYOB Cantonese spot where roast meats, wonton soup, and seafood platters land on lazy Susans for rowdy tables. It’s a go-to for birthdays and family-style celebrations when you want a full table of classics without white-tablecloth formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp and Pork Wonton Soup, Crispy Roast Duck, Steamed Razor Clams with Garlic Vermicelli
What makes it special: Lively BYOB Cantonese banquets with standout roast meats and seafood.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
West Rice Roll King focuses almost entirely on cheung fun, steaming thin rice noodle sheets to order and rolling them around shrimp, beef, and char siu. The tight, counter-heavy space is built for quick slurps more than lingering, but the texture keeps people coming back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll, Char Siu Rice Noodle Roll, Beef and Egg Rice Noodle Roll
What makes it special: Made-to-order Cantonese rice noodle rolls with excellent texture.
7.8
Congee Village is a longtime Cantonese standby where glowing lanterns, wood-paneled rooms, and big round tables host shared congee, stir-fries, and casseroles. It’s less about precision and more about the raucous, late-night feel of a classic Chinatown banquet house.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seafood Congee, Salt and Pepper Pork Chops, House Special Fried Rice
What makes it special: Kitschy banquet-style Cantonese with sprawling congee and stir-fry menu.