Best Chinese Restaurants in Midtown East (10017)
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings
Soup dumplings that deliver broth, balance, and repeatable texture at scale.
Notable Picks
8.5
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Business Lunch Power Players
Comfort Food Classics
Trendy Table Hotspots
A Midtown East Shanghainese dining room built around xiao long bao that stay consistently hot, juicy, and wrapper-forward—meant to be eaten immediately. It works best as a tight order: soup dumplings plus one pan-fried dumpling and a simple noodle or veg plate to round out the meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork soup dumplings (xiao long bao), Crab & pork soup dumplings, Pan-fried pork dumplings
What makes it special: Soup dumplings that deliver broth, balance, and repeatable texture at scale.
#2
Mala Kitchen
8.1
A compact Midtown East Sichuan address that leans into numbing chile heat and sauce-driven classics rather than a broad, diluted menu. The move is to target signature Sichuan plates—one tofu or veg dish plus one protein—so the spice stays clean instead of chaotic.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mapo tofu, Dry-fried green beans, Dan dan noodles
What makes it special: Sichuan-forward heat with the classic mala numb-and-spice profile done cleanly.
Worthy Picks
7.7
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
A fast, dumpling-centric Midtown East spot built around quick-turn orders and classic fillings that travel well. It’s strongest when you keep it simple: one dumpling order plus one noodle or fried rice, then add chili oil to tune the finish.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork and chives dumplings, Hong Kong wonton noodle soup, House fried rice
What makes it special: Quick dumplings with a dependable, no-drama format for Midtown.
#4
San Wei
7.6
A Grand Central Terminal concourse stall that mixes modern Chinese noodle bowls and wontons with grab-and-go speed. The best orders are the noodle-and-wonton staples—built for commuters—while drinks are a nice add-on, not the main event.
Must-Try Dishes:
Egg and tomato noodles, Pork & shrimp wontons in spicy sesame sauce, Shanghai-style noodles with chicken leg
What makes it special: Chinese noodle-and-wonton comfort built for Grand Central speed.