Chinese food in this city is so diverse, it's hard to pin down just one top restaurant, cheap joint or dim sum spot. We've got everything from sweet and sticky Americanized lo mein takeout to Flushing food malls to fancy upscale restaurants serving $30 Beijing duck dishes. But Chinese cuisine in New York is a culture unto itself, and we're just as snobbish about it as we are our bagels and pizza (for good reason). Here are a few of our favorite Chinese dishes; we know you'll share yours in the comments.
BEST NOODLE SOUP: HAND-PULLED NOODLE WITH BEEF IN HOT AND SPICY SOUP AT SUPER TASTE: For about five bucks, this pint-sized, classic Chinatown noodle shop will whip you up a bowl filled with tongue-numblingly fiery broth and packed with fresh hand-pulled-noodles and thick, chewy chunks of beef. The red-hot soup is also topped with peppers, spinach and a sprinkle of cilantro. If you're a sensitive eater and don't think you can handle the spice, there's a more mild version of the beef soup, but it doesn't have quite the same kick—try the hand-pulled noodles with flavorful pork-bone or ox-tail instead.
Super Taste is located at 26 Eldridge Street between Canal and Division Street in Chinatown (212) 625-1198.
Pan Fried Stuffed Triple Delight at Yee Li (John Del Signore/Gothamist)
BEST MARRIAGE OF SHRIMP AND TOFU: PAN FRIED STUFFED TRIPLE DELIGHT AT YEE LI: We've been frequenting this Chinatown restaurant since back when it was known as New Big Wang, mainly because of one addictive dish that we can't resist: The Triple Delight. You may be thrown by the brown, lacquered bird carcasses hanging in the window, but this non-meat selection—okay, okay yes it has shrimp in it but still—is both delicious and satisfying, leaving even meat eaters wanting for nothing. The rich delicacy contains eggplant and green pepper plus silky tofu stuffed with shrimp, all swimming in black bean sauce. This on its own is delicious, but ask for a side of ginger scallion sauce to mix in and you have a truly transcendent plate of food. This enormous portion costs $16.50 but you'll have plenty to nosh on straight from the fridge later on. (Nell Casey)
Yee Li is located at 1 Elizabeth Street in Chinatown, (212) 219-3686. Cash Only.
BEST MEAT DISH: ROAST PORK AT LUCKY EIGHT RESTAURANT: Roast pork, or char siu, is a pretty typical Cantonese dish, and it's one of our favorites. And this Borough Park restaurant does it to perfection, serving up pieces of pork marinated in soy sauce, red wine, brown sugar, honey and garlic, then baked until it strikes just the right balance between tender and tough. The meat is chopped up into thick, round slices and served over rice for the handsome price of $5.50. For something a little fattier, try the suckling pig, too; it's served fried and crispy over rice for $7.50.
Lucky Eight Restaurant is located at 5204 Eighth Ave between 52nd and 53rd Street in Borough Park, Brooklyn (718) 851-8862.
BEST DUMPLINGS: SPICY WONTONS AT WHITE BEAR: The humble wonton sometimes get overshadowed by its flashier dumpling cousin xiao long boa, but sometimes the simplest of designs yield the tastiest of treasures. This minuscule Flushing shop—located steps from the Flushing-Main Street 7 stop so no excuses!—makes Sichuan-style wontons stuffed with savory pork and cabbage, lovingly encased in a thin, tender wrapper. The dumplings are then generously sprinkled with spicy chili oil, chopped scallions, and diced picked vegetables. If you've only ever had wontons floating in broth, get ready to experience a wonton game change. You won't find much in the way of decor here, but at $4.50 for 12 dumplings, you won't miss the lack of proper plates. (Nell Casey)
White Bear is located at 135-02 Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing, Queens, (718) 961-2322
BEST AMERICANIZED DISH: LOVER IN THE STARS AT HUNAN BALCONY: Basic Chinese takeout places are a dime-a-dozen in New York, and there isn't usually much to distinguish one from the other beyond a particular neighborhood preference or the speed with which they deliver to your door. But while this Upper West Side restaurant is nothing special, we haven't seen this two-person Lover In The Stars dish elsewhere, and it's definitely worth checking out. The spicy $14.50 meal is made with long, shredded chunks of beef, shredded string beans, snow peas and black sauce; it's served with white rice and sits on top of a couple deliciously greasy (and super American) scallion pancakes. It's meant to be shared, but we won't blame you if you manage to down the whole dish yourself.
Hunan Balcony is located at 2596 Broadway at 98th Street on the Upper West Side (212) 865-0400.
BEST DIM SUM: EAST HARBOR SEAFOOD PALACE: There are a million places to experience a Dim Sum brunch but we love this Dyker Heights restaurant for its reasonable prices—plates range from $1.95 for small to $7.96 for "super"—and the incredible variety of dishes they offer. We're particularly fond of the Naw Mai Fan, a drier version of sticky rice flecked with bits of meat and the greasy but wonderful Wu Gok (fried taro dumplings), but the dim sum staples like Ha Gao (shrimp dumplings), Ha Cheung (rice rolls) and chicken feet are delicious as well. Save room for dessert and seek out the Lai Wong Bao, a pillowy bun filled with runny, sweetened egg yolk; sounds weird, tastes amazing. Sundays are complete madness—especially if you're arriving after 11 a.m.—so, if you can, arrive early or on another day of the week. Otherwise, be prepared to take a number and wait for an hour or more. (Nell Casey)
East Harbor Seafood Palace is located at 714 65th Street between 7th and 8th Ave in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, (718) 765-0098.
