Chinatown A tasty New York Adventure

Category: Attractions & Nightlife

By Beth Kaiserman

I work in Soho, where there’s an array of chic dining options to suit any palate. But I often find myself pointing customers to more genuine digs, like Ray’s Pizza on Prince Street, or Chinatown, just a short walk down Broadway. Pizza and Chinese food should be two cuisine “must haves” on any New York tourist’s meal plan.

New York’s Chinatown is one of the biggest Chinese communities outside Asia, and it’s as real as it gets, at least when it comes to food. If you can work your way through the sea of “designer” discounts, you can find yourself a fantastic meal at many of Chinatown’s hole-in-the-wall restaurants, along with an array of produce and fish markets.

It’s often a struggle for me to leave the cozy confines of my apartment to re-enter the winter cold, but by 9:30 p.m. a craving for Chinese food got the best of me. Recently, I took a trip to Chinatown in a huge downpour (luckily just a short ride on the J train to the Bowery stop) and went to the Cantonese restaurant Congee, 98 Bowery, where I chose sesame chicken for my late night feast.

The food was fantastic, and the leftovers were great the next day. (A work buddy had Chinese food too, so we made an impromptu food exchange, elementary school style.) The scrumptious meal was the highlight of a long and intense day.

I’m looking to discover more delicious gems within the fast-paced Chinatown scene.