Best Cheap Eats Chinese Restaurants in Chinatown
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Foo Chow Restaurant
Old-school Chinatown staple recognized as the Rush Hour filming location, serving Cantonese-American classics since the 1980s
Worthy Picks
7.9
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
Outdoor Dining Oasis
A family-run Cantonese-American kitchen operating since 1977, built on generous-portioned staples like crispy duck, honey walnut shrimp, and beef chow fun that keep multi-generational regulars coming back. The Rush Hour filming location doubles as a no-frills Chinatown anchor where the courtyard patio with paper lanterns is the nicest surprise. Go for a big group order at moderate prices and expect solid comfort food, not a reinvention of the genre.
Must-Try Dishes:
Orange Chicken, Chow Mein, Egg Rolls
What Makes it Special: Old-school Chinatown staple recognized as the Rush Hour filming location, serving Cantonese-American classics since the 1980s
7.8
A Chinatown bakery counter operating since the 1980s, turning out fresh dim sum items alongside traditional Chinese pastries at cash-only prices that keep regulars coming back. The format is transactional—grab char siu bao and sesame balls, skip the ambiance—but 40 years of consistency speaks for itself.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dim Sum, Char Siu Bao, Siu Mai
What Makes it Special: Cash-only Chinatown bakery serving fresh dim sum and traditional Chinese pastries since the 1980s
7.7
Cash-only Chinatown counter service where dim sum items run under $1.50 each—har gow at $0.90, siu mai at $0.80, BBQ pork bun at $1.00. The separate takeout window moves faster than dine-in during busy stretches. Operating since 1976, the trade-off is sticky floors and lukewarm items when turnover slows; prime-time visits catch fresher product. Egg custard tart consistently outperforms other items.
Must-Try Dishes:
BBQ Pork Bun, Roast Duck Noodles, Siu Mai
What Makes it Special: Cash-only Chinatown dim sum counter with 50+ years of roast duck tradition