Best Chinese Restaurants in Little Italy
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Nom Wah
Fast-casual dim sum from the Nom Wah team with self-service ordering and downtown-friendly pricing.
Worthy Picks
#1
Nom Wah
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A fast-casual offshoot of Manhattan’s century-old Nom Wah Tea Parlor, this Nolita counter focuses on dim sum standards, noodles, and Chinese-American comfort dishes at still-reasonable downtown prices. Self-service kiosks, an open kitchen, and quick ticket times make it a practical stop for soup dumplings and small plates before or after shopping in Soho.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Soup Dumplings, Shrimp Siu Mai, Sloppy Joe Noodles
What makes it special: Fast-casual dim sum from the Nom Wah team with self-service ordering and downtown-friendly pricing.
#2
Spring Cafe
7.7
A vegan Chinese-leaning cafe that’s most useful when you want plant-based comfort with a Chinatown address—bao buns, sandwiches, and quick plates that feel designed for everyday eating. Treat it like an efficient takeout stop with a few repeatable favorites.
Must-Try Dishes:
Vegan bao buns, Bento-style plates, Ube sandwich
What makes it special: A vegan Chinatown-adjacent cafe with Chinese-inspired comfort staples.
7.6
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A small Chinatown bakery-cafe focused on Hong Kong–style sponge cakes and easy drinks, working best as a quick dessert stop or a light morning treat. It’s not a full Chinese meal, but it earns its place as a distinctive, repeatable sweet craving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hong Kong sponge cake, Egg tart, Milk tea
What makes it special: Hong Kong–style sponge cakes in a tiny, snack-first cafe.