Nothing wounds me more than setting a group of high school kids free in Chinatown and seeing them come back to the bus with bags from McDonald’s. Should you be down there anytime soon, here are two restaurants I strongly recommend.
Presentation is a big thing in Chinatown. I prefer restaurants with no sign, no menu, no seats — there’s even one I like on Hester St. where after you order, the waitress leaves the premises and comes back with your food.
For a quick stand-up bite, I greatle endorse a place called Fried Dumpling. They serve one thing. Take a guess what it is. You walk in and there is a woman over a giant pan frying dumplings. You give her $1, she gives you five of them. Very little speaking in involved. There is a little counter space with some soy sauce, vinegar and hot sauce – along with other patrons’ garbage. The spot is on Mosco St., which is a little difficult to find — if you are heading east on Canal, hang a right on Mulberry and walk down toward the courthouses. Before you hit Worth St., hang a left. The food is fantastic and the ambiance couldn’t be better. (Photo below found on Flickr)
Or so you think. Make a left coming out of Fried Dumpling, a left on Mott and quick right on Pell and another quick right on Doyers. Behold the Nom Wah Tea Parlor. (Photo of sign from Flickr)
Channeling the great Saturn Bar in New Orleans, this 80 year old Dim Sum house has got its own decor going. From the cracked red-plastic cushions in the booth to the giant mound of phone books and empty plastic bags on a center table, this place is the real deal.
We smiled at a waiter who gestured for us to sit down. The place was completely empty except for one other couple and a Chinese mother and son playing chess in the back. We sat, expecting a menu. Instead, food started arriving. And tea. And more food. Very good dim sum (one dish a little greasy, but still yummy. Another had that gooey ball-of-snot thing going, but all dim sum places serve you that one eventually.)
Only one of the waiters could speak English (not ours unfortunately) so our request for water was met with more tea. Finally we did get water, in paper cups with the Bank of America logo on them. Awesome!
We finally had to wave the waiter off. No more food. Then the bill. You ready? $8!!!!! We felt guilty for paying so little we left a 50% tip.
