Chinatown Tour: Top Must Go Stops

Chinatown is as multifaceted as the people who call it home. It’s a rich and fascinating blend of cultures, languages, religions, and especially food. The three of us went on a Chinatown run, stopping by every place we could, from famous institutions to local havens. 

First Stop: Mott Street Eatery 

Located at 98 Mott Street just north of Canal, Mott Street Eatery is relatively new, opening in 2021. Replicating the notorious food courts of Flushing, Sunset Park, and Elmhurst, this is one of the first food courts devoted entirely to food in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Having around 100 seats and 10 stalls, the inside is nothing special, having a newish feeling with white walls and relatively plain seats. However, the stalls, each displaying their variety of dishes, were bustling with people, and frankly all looked delicious. We decided to try two of the stalls that caught our eye: Sanmiwago and 89 Eatery 

Sanmiwago

Sanmiwago’s signature pork and chive pan-fried dumplings ($8)

Sanmiwago’s signature pork and chive pan-fried dumplings are a delightful highlight on their menu. Priced at a reasonable $8, these dumplings offer good value considering most menu items range from $8 to $11. Despite the long wait, exacerbated by the cook stepping away for about 10 minutes, the dumplings arrived piping hot, which added to their appeal.

The dumplings had a satisfying crispness and a flavorful filling. The classic combination of pork and chive was executed well, with the filling being notably juicy. Garnished with additional chives and cilantro, these dumplings had a fresh and vibrant finish.

The dumplings come with a complimentary egg drop soup. While the soup was warm and didn't have much flavor on its own, it served as a good pairing with the dumplings. The mild taste of the soup complemented the rich and savory dumplings, providing a balanced dining experience.

Overall, the signature pork and chive dumplings at Sanmiwago are worth the wait. The flavorful and juicy filling combined with a crisp exterior makes for a satisfying dish, and the accompanying soup, though subtle in flavor, enhances the meal.

89 Eatery

89 Eatery excels in providing ultra quick service, with the food ready by the time you finish paying. This makes it an excellent spot for a quick snack or takeout, ideal for those on the go. 89 Eatery is a great option for those seeking quick service and convenient takeout. While the pork buns and shrimp rice noodle roll are flavorful and satisfying, they could be improved by being served warmer and with a better balance of ingredients. Nonetheless, for a fast and tasty snack, 89 Eatery delivers well.

Pork Buns ($5)

The pork buns are a decent option for a quick bite. The buns are fluffy, and the pork inside has a good flavor. However, they would be even better if served warmer and fresher, as they seem to have been sitting for a bit. Additionally, a more generous pork filling would enhance the overall experience.

Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll ($6)

The shrimp rice noodle roll is another solid choice, though it shares similar drawbacks with the pork buns. The shrimp is tasty, but the dish would benefit from being served warmer and fresher. The shrimp-to-rice roll ratio is a bit off, with not enough shrimp to balance the rice noodle. Despite these minor issues, the dish is overall pretty good.

Tai Pan Bakery: 

After our stop at Mott Street Eatery, we made a quick stop at Tai Pan Bakery. Located on 194 Canal Street, the bakery is one of many in Chinatown. The bakery focuses on single-serving pastries: small tarts, slices of Swiss roll cake, and buns with fillings like red bean, roast pork, taro, cream, salted egg yolk, and beyond. With a self-serve section, we picked up a tray to manually pick our buns and pastries, though they also have many pastries behind the counter. Afterwards, we brought the tray up to pay, a convenient system that keeps the constant line moving. We decided to get three things: 

Pork Bun ($2.25)

The pork bun at Tai Pan Bakery is a solid choice for a quick and affordable snack. The bun itself is soft and fresh, providing a pleasant texture. The pork filling has a decent flavor, though it could be more tender to elevate the overall experience. Despite this, it's a satisfying option for the price.

Honey Cake ($2.25)

The honey cake offers a soft texture and a well-balanced sweetness, making it an enjoyable treat. However, it tends to be a bit dry, which detracts from its appeal. While it's a decent choice for those with a sweet tooth, it doesn't stand out as anything particularly special.

Portuguese Style Egg Custard ($2.50)

The Portuguese style egg custard is a highlight at Tai Pan Bakery. The pastry is buttery and flaky, providing a delightful contrast to the smooth custard. The egg custard itself is sweet but not overly so, striking a good balance. This treat is a must-try for its excellent texture and flavor.

Mei Lai Wah
Finally, we stopped at Mei Lai Wah, the most famous of these spots. Mei Lai Wah has seen a recent surge in popularity, mostly due to social media. We went to see if the place really did live up to the hype. The shop itself shows its age, being a family owned business founded in 1968. However, it adds a layer of charm and credibility to the store, and the line down the block certainly backs this. Though their service is very quick (this is due to the fact that, although they have many items on their menu, most people go for the pork buns, so they are handed out very quickly), we waited for 15 minutes just to get our three buns. When we ordered our buns electronically through digital stalls, we waited until our number was called. I personally waited in the cramped shop, where there were no seats and at least 15 people all waiting for their orders or ordering. Though the ordering process was a bit unpleasant, we received three warm buns: 2 regular buns and one pineapple. 

Baked Roast Pork Bun ($1.75)

This bun lived up to the hype. Besides the very cheap price and big portion size, the bun tasted delicious. The outside bun was warm and the right amount of chewy, while the inside had a more than adequate amount of filling. The pork filling tasted delicious, with high quality pork seasoned perfectly. Would highly recommend it. 

Pineapple Bun with Roast Pork ($2.30) 

This bun is the more famous of the two, and this bun has gone viral online. It certainly lived up to the hype as well; the pineapple surprisingly worked really well with the pork, providing a slight sweet tangness that helped cut through the rich pork filling. The bun was slightly harder and chewier, not necessarily a bad thing, and once again, the bun was a great deal with its massive portion size. It was very good, but personally, I would say that the Baked Roast Pork Bun suffices and is the better deal.