The 15 best Chinese restaurants in NYC

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What is it? Named for qinghua, the floral-patterned blue-and-white porcelain, Blue Blossom honors traditional craft while serving up modern, photo-ready dishes like a steamer full of vibrant rainbow dumplings and earthy, jiggly green jasmine jello with matcha. 

Why we love it: Order the half salted baked chicken, cooked with scallions and ginger, or a half or whole Peking duck, which arrives gorgeously pink, crispy and ready to roll into perfect pancakes. You also can’t miss their potatoes, which are served shredded and sautéed in a nod to northern Chinese home cooking. 

Time Out tip: The expansive dining room, which seats 200, can feel pretty buzzy during peak dining hours. If you can, score a seat on the mezzanine, where you can enjoy the ambiance while you ooh and ahh over your rainbow dumplings and shatter-skinned duck. 

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 11:30am–11pm; Fri, Sat 11:30am–11:30pm

Address: 108 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018

From the teams behind Café Spaghetti and Swoony’s and the beloved NYC institution Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Sal Tang’s celebrates Cantonese-American cooking (with a few brief nods to Italian food). You’ll find familiar dishes New Yorkers grew up on, like wonton soup and sweet-and-sour chicken, alongside fettuccine tossed with spicy pork ragù and crispy garlic. It’s playful without being too precious, and the kind of space that already feels like a longstanding neighborhood fave. 

The vibe: Like Swoony’s, Sal Tang’s leans a little scene-y but mostly relaxed, with an energy that works just as well for an early family dinner as it does for a date-night drink at the bar. 

The food: Classics like wonton soup and the nostalgic-but-upgraded crab rangoon mozzarella sticks are a hit for starters, and the sesame chicken cutlet is pure throwback pleasure. Always get a big domed dish of fried rice for the table, even if the only other thing you’ll be ordering is a handful of Tsingtaos. 

The drinks: The tropical-leaning cocktail lineup includes lychee martinis, mai tais, and a salted plum daiquiri made with small-batch Sweet Crude rum. House iced teas and lemonades can be spiked, making it easy to turn an early dinner into a night out on the town. 

Time Out tip: Start at the bar with a couple of cocktails and an order of egg rolls, but don’t be surprised to find yourself moving to a table once the dishes you order start taking up all your elbow room. 

What is it? Pay by the skewer at this Queens location of the popular barbecue spot, where spicy chicken, sausage and whole squid get charred to perfection on the BBQ. A huge array of veggies is up for skewering alongside the proteins, like sweet corn, vibrant green chives, lotus root, and enoki mushrooms. 

Why love it: Choose your spice level, from mild to super fiery, and round out your meal with fragrant broths and your choice of chewy fen gan noodles, wheat Shandong noodles, thin mei fun noodles and more. All the options make it a super-fun spot to bring a crowd or order a takeout feast. 

Time Out tip: If you’re dining in, try the ice rice, a Fujianese mix of glutinous rice, crushed ice and toppings including red beans, fresh fruit and chewy boba bubbles.

Opening hours: Tue–Thu noon–midnight; Fri–Sat 1pm–1am; Sun noon–midnight; Mon, closed

Address: 90-58 Corona Ave, Elmhurst, NY 11373

What is it? New York's first dim sum house opened in 1920 and developed a devoted following for its almond cookies and moon cakes. In 2010, the stalwart went through a remodel. The most important tweaks, though, were behind the scenes. Now, the charming old-school institution prepares each plate to order, unlike some of the busy banquet halls that dominate Chinatown's dim sum scene.

Why we love it: The dining room is charming and welcoming, from the checkered tablecloths over Art Deco tables to the couples huddled beneath old movie posters. The food, too, stands apart; the dim sum is fresh and affordable, with an order of dumplings running you around six bucks. 

Time Out tip: Try the ultra-fluffy oversized roasted-pork bun, the flaky fried crepe egg roll and the tender stuffed eggplant filled with a spiced shrimp-and-squid mixture. 

Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm

Address: 13 Doyers St, New York, NY 10013

What is it? This glittering Art Deco dining room features over-the-top design elements, including a long glass hallway with rows of wine bottles illuminated like heist-worthy works of art. The menu lives up to the aesthetic, with rosé Champagne shrimp dumplings, spicy mapo tofu and a roasted Peking duck with skin that crackles exactly the way you want it to. 

Why we love it: Try their $138 tasting menu, which guides you through a menu of spicy calamari, poached chicken in chili broth, crab meat and roe dumplings, wok-tossed lobster with black beans and dried garlic, ma la beef tenderloin and more. For dessert, there’s sweet bao with white sesame chantilly cream, salted caramel and sesame, plus soy milk ice cream. 

Time Out tip: Hutong serves a special flaming Peking duck that’s only available to pre-order, and only on a limited basis. After a 36-hour cure with Sichuan green chiles, star anise, black pepper and chili paste, it’s roasted until crispy, then dramatically finished tableside with wine and rum before being set, briefly, ablaze. 

Opening hours: Mon–Thu noon–10pm; Fri noon–11pm; Sat 11:30am–11pm; Sun 11:30am–10pm

Address: 731 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

What is it? Chinese hot pot, customarily stewed with thinly sliced meats, vegetables and stock, gets a brothless showcase at this East Village restaurant from owner Ning Amelie Kang and chef Qilong Zhao. Named for its “numbing" and "spicy" qualities, the restaurant’s starring dish is a variation on Chongqing dry pot, a stir-fry-like spread built with your choice of add-ins. Meat options include beef tenderloin, pig ear, fish fillets, squid balls and frog. 

Why we love it: Beyond the pot, diners can pull up to a 15-seat communal table or a marble-topped counter for snacks like steamed egg custard, spicy wings and duck tacos. 

Time Out tip: When you build your hot pot, you can choose your level of spice, from the mild soy ginger to the “sweat, tears and flavor blast” extra spicy. (Take their word for it—there will be tears.) Then add in your meats, including Spam, pork belly, chicken wing and chicken gizzard, your seafoods—fish cakes and lobster balls are some faves—and veggies, like lotus root, baby bamboo and Chinese cabbage, to make a hot pot that’s all your own.

Opening hours: Mon–Thu noon–9:15pm; Fri noon–10pm; Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–9:15pm

Address: 122 1st Ave, New York, NY 10009

What is it? This mom-and-pop takeout spot was started by a couple from Kunming, the capital of the southeastern Yunnan province. The local cuisine draws on the citrus and herb flavors of nearby Southeast Asia. Best-sellers include hot-and-sour soup with pork dumplings and skinny house-made rice noodles served cold with ground pork, roasted peanuts and a bracing but sweet mix of chili oil, vinegar and soy sauce. More noodles appear in a light bone broth, topped with goodies like crispy pig skin or braised chicken.

Why we love it: One of our top spots for cheap eats in Sunset Park, you can score dumplings, noodles and pickled veg for a song. 

Time Out tip: Try their guoqiao mixian, or “Crossing the Bridge” noodles, which are assembled at the table with a bowl of steaming broth, homemade rice noodles, meat and veg.  

Opening hours: Daily 9am–9pm 

Address: 5121 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

What is it? This long-standing BYOB spot serves up Peking duck for $56 per person, which includes an appetizer of spring rolls, barbecued beef or soup, plus your choice of entrees like General Tso’s chicken, sauteed shrimp, crispy string beans with minced pork and Peking-style pork chops. 

Why we love it: Your waiter parades the roasted duck past your party before placing it on the center show table. A chef brandishes his knives, then slices the aromatic, crisp-skinned, succulent meat with flair. Folks at other tables drool with envy. (Don’t they know that this establishment doesn’t require you to order the specialty in advance? Pity.) 

Time Out Tip: Select the “three-way,” and your duck will arrive as the main course (complete with pancakes and plum sauce for rolling up the goods), plus a vegetable stir-fry with leftover bits of meat and a cabbage soup made with the remaining bone.

Opening hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30am–10pm; Fri–Sat 11:30am–11pm

Address: 28 Mott St A, New York, NY 10013

What is it? Dozens of congee varieties aren’t even the tip of the iceberg at this sprawling, delightful LES spot. Order a couple of cocktails and choose from page after page of menu items, like sea cucumber preparations, several soup varieties, all manner of seafood, and plentiful beef, pork, poultry and vegetable entrées. 

Why we love it: You don’t have to go for the namesake congee. Hits include roasted duck, garlicky razor clams and the sweet-and-sticky honey-glazed spare ribs. And for dessert: a private karaoke room. 

Time Out tip: Congee Village is one of our top picks for throwing a party with your twenty best friends (and their friends, too). Huge tables, two stories of seating and the endless menu make it the perfect pick for pre-club happy hours, gossip sessions with old co-workers and meetups with the whole gang. 

Opening hours: Mon–Thu, Sun; 11am–10pm; Fri, Sat 11am–11pm

Address: 100 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

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What is it? First opened in 1938, this basement spot serves what they call "old-fashioned chop suey style food." If there’s a wait, don’t fret, because Wo Hop runs another operation right upstairs. 

Why we love it: Even if you’ve never eaten at Wo Hop, you may know it from its branded t-shirts or the tales folks have told you about late nights here spent over bowls of lo mein. The food might not be the absolute best in the city, but the vibes more than make up for it. While they don’t burn the midnight oil any longer (in fact, in a blow to the entire city, Wo Hop now closes at 10), you can still order big, lean in and fuel up for a big night on the town. 

Time Out tip: Bring cash, and think simple. Fried rice, hot golden dumplings and an ice-cold beer are all you need for an ideal meal. And don’t be surprised if you walk out wearing one of those t-shirts. 

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10:30am–10pm; Sun 10:30am–9pm

Address: 17 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

What is it? This famed soup dumpling restaurant serves up six or eight dumplings per order. Golden yellow chicken soup dumplings; green luffa, shrimp and pork dumplings; black truffle and pork soup dumplings; and pink scallop and pork dumplings add color to your already extremely photographable order.  

Why we love it: While the city’s selection of excellent soup dumplings is always growing, we find ourselves coming back to this spot for scallion pancakes, tender stir-fried rice cakes with pork, and sweet bao filled with lavender ube red bean and creamy black sesame. 

Time Out tip: Nan Xiang’s original Flushing location is still the go-to for longtime fans, while the Manhattan outposts make it easier to get your soup dumpling fix without leaving the borough. 

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 8am–midnight; Fri, Sat 8am–1am

Address: 39-16 Prince St #104, Flushing, NY 11354

What is it? Spartan furnishings focus all the attention right where it should be, on Little Pepper’s stunning, spicy Szechuan fare. The braised sliced fish comes simmered in a scarlet broth reminiscent of a Thai curry. Dan dan noodles take on new life here, too, mixed with Little Pepper’s signature fiery minced pork.

Why we love it: Come prepared for that tingling Szechuan pepper everywhere you look. Even simple appetizers like the sliced beef blister with the heat of a firecracker. Anything with “dried hot pepper” in the name is sure to be nice and spicy, along with the Chongqing chicken, which is made with garlic, ginger and, of course, the Sichuan peppers this spot is named for. 

Time Out tip: Go for a dish with pickled veggies, like the squid with pickled pepper or the fish with pickled cabbage soup, for a slight (!) relief from the heat. 

Opening hours: Mon–Wed, Fri–Sun 11:30am–3pm, 5–9pm

Address: 18-24 College Point Blvd, College Point, NY 11356

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What is it? This Sichuanese spot in Williamsburg from Xian Zhang and Yiming Wang, the restaurateurs behind Midtown's formerly lovely Cafe China, is as excellent and popular as the duo’s original operation. The menu here does not miss, and favorites include the mapo tofu, three pepper chicken, and the tea-smoked duck. 

Why we love it: With its Williamsburg address, you won’t be surprised to find $18 cocktails like the Chungking Express with bitter melon-infused tequila, pineapple and lime on the menu, but you might be surprised to find how much you want a second or third one. Whether you’re tucking in before a night out or this is the night’s final destination, it’s one of the spots on this list that hits the low-key-but-well-planned “date night” brief. 

Time Out tip: Go at lunch time every weekday from noon to 4:30 for their lunch special, which comes with white rice and your choice of fiery ma po tofu, fried eggplant, sauteed duck with ginger and more entree options for as little as nine bucks. 

Opening hours: 191 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Address: Mon–Thu noon–10pm; Fri noon–10:30pm; Sat 11am–10:30pm; Sun 11am–10pm

What is it? The best dishes at this noodle-based operation pack the heat and deep, complex flavors of Henan. In a spicy beef brisket dish, a tangy sauce bathes a pile of noodles, all topped with chopped cilantro. 

Why we love it: You simply must order the aptly titled “Spicy Big Tray Chicken,” a bright-orange, chili-spiked pool of broth rich with star anise and cumin and studded with huge chunks of chicken. It currently rings up at $21.50, but it’s more than enough food to feed two or three hungry folks. (Plus, it got the thumbs up from Mayor Mamdani on a recent visit—what more could one ask from a big spicy tray of chicken?)

Time Out tip: Stop by early for their off-menu breakfast sandwich, a scallion pancake with beef and a fried egg. It’s spiced, filling and outrageously rich, making it exactly what you need before 11am.

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10:30am–10pm

Address: 68 Forsyth St B, New York, NY 10002

What is it? First opened in 2022 by the team behind Milk & Cream Cereal Bar, this Chrystie Street spot was on our list of that year's best new restaurants. See what all the fuss is about over pork and chive potstickers, braised short ribs and spicy eggplant. 

Why we love it: The salt and pepper chicken with jalapeno jam and scallion biscuits is just a little bit Southern, with perfectly golden fried chicken and a scallion pancake reimagined into a buttery biscuit, but it’s really just all Potluck Club. Just like everything else on the menu, it’s one-of-a-kind and, most importantly, delicious. 

Time Out tip: Stick around for dessert: their take on a Dole whip, topped with a fortune cookie and crispy pineapple bun, is worth a trip all on its own. 

Opening hours: 133 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002

Address: Wed–Sun 5:30–9:15pm

The best Chinese restaurants in America, from local joints for top noodles and dumplings to a dim sum legend