Get us in your inbox

Search
  1. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanMission Chinese Food
  2. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Cumin lamb breast at Mission Chinese Food

  3. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Thrice-cooked bacon with rice cakes at Mission Chinese Food

  4. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Kung pao pastrami at Mission Chinese Food

  5. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Salt cod fried rice at Mission Chinese Food

  6. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanFresh tofu poached in soymilk with soybeans at Mission Chinese Food
  7. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanMapo tofu with pork shoulder at Mission Chinese Food
  8. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanMouth-watering chicken at Mission Chinese Food
  9. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanTea-smoked eel at Mission Chinese Food
  10. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanBeijing vinegar peanuts and pickles at Mission Chinese Food
  11. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanChongqing chicken wings at Mission Chinese Food
  12. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanLamb-cheek dumplings in red oil at Mission Chinese Food
  13. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanSavory egg custard with trout roe at Mission Chinese Food
  14. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanStir-fried sweet peas at Mission Chinese Food
  15. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanWild pepper leaves in salted chili broth at Mission Chinese Food
  16. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanChilled buckwheat noodles at Mission Chinese Food
  17. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanMongolian long beans at Mission Chinese Food
  18. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Mission Chinese Food

  19. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Mission Chinese Food

  20. Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
    Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Danny Bowien at Mission Chinese Food

The Smoking Hot Number Award: Mission Chinese Food

Advertising

RECOMMENDED: Food & Drink Awards 2013

Riding a maverick wave of hype from San Francisco, this wonderfully weird Asian dive washed onto the Lower East Side and captivated our city’s notoriously cynical denizens with its while-you-wait gratis beer, Twin Peaks–themed bathroom and, most profoundly, chef Danny Bowien’s singular, Scoville-busting cuisine. Bowien blazed onto the scene like a Szechuan supernova, his unmistakable look (he stir-fried flaming woks in white short shorts, ombré-blond mane tucked under a hat) popping up everywhere, from GQ to Uniqlo. Only a dude as proudly idiosyncratic as the Korea-born, Oklahoma-bred toque would be cocksure enough to plate delectably oddball kung pao pastrami and Coca-Cola-braised pig tails, or bold enough to stack 30-pound boxes of dried chilies in sight, daring you to flee. Instead, New Yorkers keep turning out in droves at the nondescript storefront, dabbing their sweat-beaded brows and fanning their overheated mouths for relief from chili-oil-soaked peanut noodles and heavily peppered pickles. At MCF, Bowien seems to be the only one not breaking a sweat. Mission Chinese Food, 154 Orchard St between Rivington and Stanton Sts (212-529-8800, missionchinesefood.com)

Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising