Skip to main content

Best Chinese Restaurants in Chinatown

9 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: February 2026

Our Top Pick
Dim Sum Go Go
Made-to-order dim sum that prioritizes dumpling texture and fillings.

Notable Picks

$$ Chinatown Chinese
Dim Sum Go Go is a Chinatown stalwart known for made-to-order dim sum rather than carts, emphasizing dumpling quality and variety. It draws both locals and destination diners with all-day service, a big steamed menu, and a 2025 Bib Gourmand nod.
Must-Try Dishes: Shrimp and Snow Pea Leaf Dumplings, Roast Duck Buns, Pan-Fried Turnip Cakes
What makes it special: Made-to-order dim sum that prioritizes dumpling texture and fillings.
$$$ Chinatown Chinese
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.
$ Chinatown Chinese, BBQ
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.
$ Chinatown Chinese
A tiny Chinatown specialist for Cantonese rice noodle rolls (cheung fun) that rewards ordering a few signature rolls and keeping the meal focused. It’s a high-satisfaction stop when you want one specific thing done well rather than a full spread.
Must-Try Dishes: Fresh cheung fun rice rolls, Shrimp rice roll, Peanut sauce add-on roll
What makes it special: A cheung fun specialist turning out fresh rice noodle rolls daily.

Worthy Picks

$ Chinatown Chinese
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.
$ Chinatown Chinese, Dim Sum
A bright, high-volume Chinatown bakery where the move is to treat it like a dim sum snack stop: grab one tart, one bun, and something you’ve never tried. It’s strong for variety and value, but best enjoyed as a quick hit rather than a destination sit-down.
Must-Try Dishes: Egg Tart, Pineapple Bun, BBQ Pork Bun (Char Siu Bao)
What makes it special: A classic Chinatown bakery counter with huge variety and strong value.
$ Chinatown Chinese
Panda Chinese is a long-running takeout-and-delivery specialist serving American-Chinese standards to Two Bridges and the edge of Chinatown late into the night. It stands out more for speed, portions, and hours than finesse, but locals lean on it as a reliable, inexpensive default.
Must-Try Dishes: General Tso’s Chicken, Pork Fried Rice, Chicken with Broccoli
What makes it special: A late-night American-Chinese standby with big portions and fast delivery.
$ Chinatown Chinese, Dim Sum
Good Century Cafe is a narrow bakery-cafe on Grand Street where trays of buns, pastries, and a handful of dim sum-style items line the counter. It’s more grab-and-go than banquet hall, but locals rely on it for quick steamed buns, rice rolls, and sweet baked treats at very friendly prices.
Must-Try Dishes: Steamed pork bun, Pan-fried turnip cake, Pineapple bun
What makes it special: A bakery-cafe hybrid where dim sum-style buns and snacks are sold alongside classic Chinese pastries.
$ Chinatown Chinese, Dim Sum
A low-key counter-style option that scratches the dim sum itch without the full banquet-room commitment. Treat it like a focused snack meal—one rice roll, one dumpling plate—so the order stays crisp and not overloaded.
Must-Try Dishes: Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls), Shrimp Dumplings, Siu Mai
What makes it special: A counter-service dim sum stop for quick plates without the crowd.