Some New York Chinese restaurants have outlasted fads, rent hikes, and every food trend of the past few decades. They still serve egg rolls, beef chow fun, and wonton soup the way your parents remember them.
This list covers ten of them, from Chinatown basements in Manhattan to family dining rooms on Long Island and in Troy, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester. If you miss the classics done right, these are the spots to save, share, and visit soon.
1. Wo Hop, New York, NY
Head down the stairs at 17 Mott Street and you reach one of Chinatown’s most famous basements. Wo Hop has reportedly been feeding New Yorkers for more than 50 years, and the downstairs room is the part regulars treat as the real deal.
The menu reads like a time capsule of Chinese-American comfort food. Beef chow fun, pork fried rice, egg rolls, Wor Shu duck, and orange chicken all hold their place, along with a well-loved shrimp in lobster sauce.
Portions run big, and most meals land around $10 to $20 per person. There is even a full vegetarian menu for anyone skipping meat.
Plan ahead on weekends, since there is usually a wait and reservations are not taken. Hours run 10:30 AM to 10 PM Monday through Saturday and until 9 PM on Sunday, which makes it an easy late lunch or after-work stop.
2. Nom Wah Tea Parlor, New York, NY
Dating back to 1920, Nom Wah Tea Parlor on Doyers Street is one of the oldest dim sum spots in the city. The vintage look is no costume, it is a century of history you can sit inside.
The tea list is a big part of the appeal, and jasmine tea pairs nicely with the dumplings. Pork soup dumplings, steamed pork buns, radish cake, steamed spare ribs, and shrimp rice rolls are all on the table.
Hungry for something crunchy? Scallion pancakes and the house special pan fried dumplings fit the bill, and fried sesame balls with lotus paste close things out sweetly.
Most meals stay in the $10 to $20 range per person. The parlor is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM and accepts reservations, which helps on busy Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
3. Kwong Ming, Wantagh, NY
Since 1962, Kwong Ming has been the place Wantagh families go for old-fashioned Cantonese and Chinese-American cooking. That is more than six decades on Jerusalem Avenue.
The homemade egg rolls are the dish people talk about first. Sticky barbecue spare ribs, pork fried dumplings, sesame chicken, and shrimp in black bean sauce follow close behind.
I like this stop for a classic family dinner. A spread can include wonton soup, egg rolls, shrimp chow mein, beef chop suey, and sweet and pungent chicken, served in generous family-size portions.
The large dining room has space for groups, and there is a private dining room too. Free parking is easy to find, a real perk on Long Island.
Kwong Ming opens at noon daily and stays open until 9:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. Hop Kee Restaurant, New York, NY
Just a few doors from Wo Hop, Hop Kee runs its own basement operation at 21 Mott Street. It has no gimmicks, no themed concept, just traditional Cantonese food done the old way.
Seafood is where this kitchen shows off. Crabs Cantonese style, pan fried flounder, salt and pepper squid, and Cantonese style snails all appear on the menu, along with lobster dishes and Yangchow fried rice.
Prefer the familiar stuff? Pork fried rice, beef chop suey, egg rolls, and pork ribs keep the comfort side covered.
Bring cash, since Hop Kee is known as a cash-only spot. Meals usually run $20 to $30 per person, and the restaurant is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM.
Weekend evenings get busy, but reservations are accepted.
5. Great NY Noodletown, New York, NY
Roast ducks hanging in the window have marked the corner of Bowery and Bayard since 1981. Great NY Noodletown keeps the setting simple so the food does the talking.
Wonton noodle soup is a big draw, with plump shrimp wontons in every bowl. Roast duck wonton noodle soup, char siu, crispy roast pork, and Peking duck round out the roast meat side.
The salt baked dishes deserve attention too. Salt baked shrimp and salt baked soft shell crab are menu favorites, and the eggplant and salted fish casserole has its own fans.
Prices stay friendly at roughly $10 to $20 per person. Doors open at 9 AM and stay open until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, so it works for breakfast or a late bowl of noodles.
6. Aberdeen Seafood & Dim Sum, White Plains, NY
Westchester residents do not have to ride into Chinatown for a proper dim sum spread. Aberdeen in White Plains serves a large, Chinatown-style selection right on Barker Avenue.
Many suburban spots offer only a handful of dim sum choices. Aberdeen goes wide, which makes it a good place to try something new alongside your usual favorites.
Cantonese seafood is the other half of the story. Steamed tofu with shrimp, garlic greens, and lobster are standouts, and the kitchen is careful with sauces.
The multilevel restaurant keeps a modest look and fair prices, around $20 to $30 per person. It closes between lunch and dinner and is closed Tuesdays.
Weekend brunch fills up fast, so booking ahead is a smart move.
7. Plum Blossom, Troy, NY
Carved woodwork and detailed Asian decor give Plum Blossom the look of a traditional Chinese banquet hall. In the Capital District, few dining rooms feel this dressed up for a Chinese dinner.
The menu sticks to the classics many of us grew up ordering. The pu pu platter, wonton soup, sesame chicken, and jar chung mein are all here.
Sharing with someone? The seafood hot and sour soup for two is a fun pick, and Thai and Japanese dishes like pad thai give the table a few extra options.
The room is calm and works for a date night or a family celebration. Expect about $20 to $30 per person, plus a free parking lot on Hoosick Road.
Note that Plum Blossom is closed Tuesdays.
8. China Pavilion, Syracuse, NY
Sunday dim sum in Syracuse is a real thing, and China Pavilion on Genesee Street is the place to find it. Dim sum is reportedly served Sundays between 11 AM and 2 PM.
Good picks include shrimp balls, steamed shrimp dumplings, Chinese greens, beef chow fun, Long Beach noodles, and Chinese pancake. Handmade dumplings and wontons show up on the regular menu too.
Weeknight diners often pair a pot of tea with hot and sour soup. The staff is known for helping guests with gluten-free choices.
The restaurant is clean, roomy, and easy on the budget at about $10 to $20 per person. There is a kids’ menu and free parking.
Hours run 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM, Tuesday through Sunday.
9. Gin Gin Restaurant, Amherst, NY
Ask around Western New York and some folks will tell you Gin Gin has been on Sheridan Drive longer than they have been alive. It has earned a spot as a long-running Buffalo-area favorite.
The space is no-frills, but the portions are hefty. Sesame chicken is a top order, and staples like wonton soup and fried rice keep the menu familiar.
One twist sets it apart from other old-school spots. Gin Gin also pours an array of bubble teas, which makes it popular with college students from nearby campuses.
Most meals land between $10 and $20 per person, and parking is free. Note the odd hours: it opens at 4:30 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays, but serves lunch other days and stays open until 10 PM nightly.
10. Tsingtao House, Rochester, NY
Free tea, rice, and dessert with dinner are a small courtesy that has mostly vanished, but Tsingtao House on West Henrietta Road still offers them. That detail alone says a lot about its old-school approach.
Meals come out family style, meant for passing around. Beef chow fun, house lo mein, kung bao chicken, and walnut shrimp are menu highlights.
The kitchen covers both Cantonese and northern Chinese cooking. Juicy prawn wontons, soft pork buns, noodle soup, and soft shell crab sit alongside spicier dishes.
Prices stay friendly at about $10 to $20 per person, with free parking. The restaurant is open 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, closed Tuesdays.
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