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Chinese Restaurants in NYC
I will be in Manhattan (hotel around Central Park South and office around Grand Central). I want to eat some GOOD chinese. It does not have to be echt and I am quite happy (would actually prefer) to eat somewhere upmarket and swanky IF the food is really tasty and good. Price is only a secondary consideration and travel time is more relevant (i.e. may not have time or energy after long days in the office to flog down to Chinatown) .
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It's been several years since I have been, but I used to go to to Phoenix Garden. The original is in Chinatown, but they opened 2nd location on (or moved to?) E. 40th that was quite good.
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I will be in Manhattan (hotel around Central Park South and office around Grand Central). I want to eat some GOOD chinese. It does not have to be echt and I am quite happy (would actually prefer) to eat somewhere upmarket and swanky IF the food is really tasty and good. Price is only a secondary consideration and travel time is more relevant (i.e. may not have time or energy after long days in the office to flog down to Chinatown) .
For great and authentic szechuan food, try Grand Sichuan (there are several locations, including one in the West 50s and one in the East 50s), or Wu Liang Ye (also multiple locations, including one not far from Grand Central and one on W. 48th). In either case, if you like it spicy, make sure to specify and they'll take care of you.
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We were at Ollie's Brasserie a couple weels ago. It is at 64th and Third. It was excellent. We had the whole Peking Duck and were very, very happy with it. First time we had been there. I think it recently changed management.
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This may not be the most authentic Chinese in the city, and it's far from midtown, but Au Mandarin inside the World Financial Center has by far the best tasting orange chicken I've ever had. All of the other chicken entrees are excellent as well. Prices are very reasonable for a sit-down dinner in Manhattan.
If dim sum is your preference, try HSF in Chinatown, at Canal and the Bowery. I seem to recall that the menus are in Chinese only, though, so you'll have to rely on the waitstaff to tell you what everything is.
For great and authentic szechuan food, try Grand Sichuan (there are several locations, including one in the West 50s and one in the East 50s), or Wu Liang Ye (also multiple locations, including one not far from Grand Central and one on W. 48th). In either case, if you like it spicy, make sure to specify and they'll take care of you.
Sadly, Grand Sichuan has gone downhill recently.
For midtown... Joe's Shanghai has a midtown outpost. It's not quite as good as Chinatown, but passable. For cheap, good noodles/rice, there's Mee's on 9th and 53rd or so, and its slightly more expensive clone, BOS, at 55th and 8th.
You might be better off with all the high-end (and not-so high-end, but authentic and highly tasty) Japanese places in midtown.
I've spent quite a bit of time living in and traveling around China, so my opinions are heavily colored by comparison with the food there. Sadly I haven't really delved into Chinese food in NYC as heavily as I should, however, so I'll only list the places I've experienced. My opinions are also largely restricted to vegetarian, fish and poultry-based dishes, since there are lots of other things I don't eat.
I'm a Grand Sichuan fan, having had good food at both the 9th Ave locations (one at 50th St the other around 26th St). Their menu includes a lot of American-style Chinese food (.e.g, Orange and General Tso's Chicken, Beef with Broccoli, etc.) and food from regions other than Central/Western China (Cantonese, Shanghainese, etc.) that's nothing special. It's the Sichuan and Hunan stuff that's really good and reasonably authentic. I can't speak for their East Side location(s), but assume they're similar.
I haven't eaten at Wu Liang Ye, but have found their delivery to be pretty good.
I ate at Shun Lee near Lincoln Center once and was thoroughly unimpressed. It's a very pleasant room, and their presentation is very nice, but I found the food pretty bland and not really representative of anything I've eaten anywhere in China. Other folks swear by the place, though.
I ate a couple times a few years ago at a place called Evergreen something-or-other in the 30's near Fifth Avenue. I can't remember which specific place it was, but they had excellent Shanghai-style food.
For much more downscale but more authentic experiences, hit the Fujianese dumpling shops on Eldridge Street downtown or jump on the 7 train to Flushing, Queens and check out Spicy and Tasty or one of the myriad other restaurants out there.
For much more downscale but more authentic experiences, hit the Fujianese dumpling shops on Eldridge Street downtown ....
Given the OP's criteria, I don't think these are the right places for him, but it is worth elaborating on these places for the other readers of this thread.
There are several places in Chinatown, with a concentration on Eldridge Street, that for the most part are holes-in-the-wall that serve handmade and super cheap dumplings. I go to Dumpling House at 118 Eldridge Street, where for $4.50 you can get a very filling meal consisting of:
Pint of hot and sour soup ($1)
Order of five fried pork dumplings ($1)
Sesame pancake with beef (served like a small sandwich; $1.50)
Bottle of water ($1)
Blumie to add a place in a similar vein: New Green Bo. 66 Bayard St in Chinatown. Ambiance is non-existent, food is excellent, prices are comically low (try to spend $25 for two without rupturing your stomach, I dare you).
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cestmoi123
Blumie to add a place in a similar vein: New Green Bo. 66 Bayard St in Chinatown. Ambiance is non-existent, food is excellent, prices are comically low (try to spend $25 for two without rupturing your stomach, I dare you).
Aha, a place for me to avoid as I am looking for expensive with atmosphere, although the excellent food does natch my requirements !
If you are looking for fun/celebrity spotting try Mr. Chows (57th and 3d I think). one of his cooks opened a place not long ago with exactly the same menu called Phillip (I believe on 61st and madison).
Chin Chin
Food Decor Service Cost
22 17 21 $46
“Not your ordinary Chinese”, this “sophisticated” Midtowner is a 20-year-old “favorite” that has reliably fine cuisine and service; sure, it’s “a bit pricey”, but you can “throw darts at the menu and come up with a fantastic meal” every time.
Mr. Chow
Food Decor Service Cost
22 19 19 $72
“Music moguls” and other glitterati do their “stargrazing” at this “clubby” black-and-silver art deco East Midtowner where the “high-class” Chinese chow is “worth the attitude on the side”; detractors dislike the occasional “obnoxious” vibes and say given the “inordinate” prices it “should be called Mr. Ouch.”
Mr. Chow has the buzz in NYC; but after reading the 2 reviews... you decide.
SW, We'll be in DC next weekend. Otherwise, we would have joined you.
