A Perfect Day in Chinatown
Published 05/05/2021
Each New York City neighborhood has its own character, but stepping into Manhattan’s Chinatown, one of the largest in the US, is like finding yourself immersed in another country. Its street vendors, tearooms, dim sum parlors, lively parks and storied restaurants, within a network of narrow streets, lend the area a distinctive feel and provide some of the many reasons to visit.
We came up with an itinerary to give you the full Chinatown experience. In one day, you can take an audio-guided walking tour, weave your way through a market, sip tea, get reflexology treatment and, of course, stop for amazing meals along the way. It’s a great way to show support for local businesses; see our list of organizations and resources for more ideas of how to support NYC’s Asian community.
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Golden Unicorn
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18 East Broadway
The breakfast and brunch dim-sum ritual of picking and choosing from handmade dumplings and other small plates is going strong at this Chinatown favorite. Besides takeout and delivery, there is outdoor dining that still gives you that feeling of anticipation as a parade of culinary treasures—for sharing with your pod—arrives at the table.
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Hop Kee
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On a bustling stretch of Mott Street, customers descend a stairway to reach the fluorescent-lit basement of this Chinatown mainstay. It feels like you’ve stepped back in time—perhaps to 1968, when the restaurant opened. It’s known for its Chinese American dishes (like sam jup mein, noodles doused in a sauce made with ketchup) as well as Cantonese favorites (say, lobster Cantonese-style)—comforting meals that are enjoyable any time of the day.
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Deluxe Meat Market
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A stroll through Deluxe Meat Market feels like you’ve stumbled into an authentic slice of Asia. There’s a butcher, seafood counter, grocery store and a handful of popular food stalls selling prepared dishes as well as barbecued meats. Even if you don’t end up buying oxtail or whole fish, just browsing this narrow market is a fun experience that engages all the senses.
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Renew Day Spa
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It can be difficult to pick out one of the many massage parlors dotting Chinatown’s streets. One of the more popular spots to pamper yourself is at Renew Day Spa, where a narrow staircase leads to a reception room filled with the scent of lemongrass. The hour-long foot massage ($30) is the way to go, but this studio also offers bodywork that will help you feel refreshed after exploring the neighborhood all day long.
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Golden Diner
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123 Madison Street
It’s become increasingly rare to find an old-school, New York–style diner these days. At the southern edge of Chinatown, in a section known as Two Bridges, you’ll find chef-owner Sam Yoo’s popular Golden Diner. The classic diner setup is reimagined with creative touches. Fancy a quintessential bacon, egg and cheese? Here, the egg and cheese sando swaps in a fragrant sesame scallion milk bun. If you have a sweet tooth, the green-tea coffee cake is a popular way to go. For lunch and dinner, don’t miss the Korean fried chicken wings or “vegetalian” hero with charred marinated yuba.
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A Self-Guided Walking Tour
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Sounds of Chinatown captures Chinatown’s rich history through a phone-accessible audio tour that guides you through the area’s vibrant streets. The virtual tour shows how sounds capture the unique neighborhood. There’s an interactive map to which residents and visitors can contribute audio recordings that showcase the heart of Chinatown and lesser-known sections such as Little Fuzhou, the Fuzhounese-speaking area located around on East Broadway.
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Manhattan Bridge
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Enter at Bowery between Canal and Bayard Streets (Manhattan side)
The Brooklyn Bridge, south of Chinatown, gets all the attention. Yes, it’s iconic, as are its views, but that also means its paths are often crowded. As an alternative, a walk on the Manhattan Bridge is just as nice to take in views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the East River—and of the Brooklyn Bridge itself. On the Manhattan side, the pedestrian entrance is at Bowery and Canal Streets; in Brooklyn, it’s at Jay and Sands Streets. It’s easy to grab a Chinatown snack either before or after your stroll.
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Fong On
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The oldest family-run tofu shop in NYC received a makeover in 2019, as a younger generation took over the business. While it’s located in a different spot from where it first opened in 1933, Fong On still serves freshly made tofu that rivals the best versions across the City. Generations of Chinatown residents have patronized this family business, and though owner Paul Eng has updated and expanded some of the offerings, the menu of tofu blocks, tofu puddings, rice cakes and grass jelly remains gently priced: nothing is more than $10.
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Sun's Organic Garden
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Oolong, jasmine, organic calendula petals—the list of stellar loose-leaf teas at Sun’s Organic Garden goes on and on. Whether you're just curious or a tea expert, this serene spot is great for sampling Chinese and Taiwanese brews. The staff here has always been kind enough to answer customers’ questions and even offers guided tastings.
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Museum of Chinese in America
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215 Centre St.
While this beloved museum is currently closed, it has window installations visible from the street and does offer digital tours with audio guides. MOCA, as it’s often called, has an oral history archive featuring videos from its Journey Wall collection that capture Chinatown’s rich past. The museum’s permanent exhibition—With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America—is available through a digital tour.