As you know, I’m trying to get out of the house every weekend to take advantage of living in NYC. I’m keen to explore new-to-me areas to get a better feel for the city I love so much. We spent Saturday in Chinatown (an area we’ve been meaning to explore more). Drawn in my the promise of phenomenal food (at fair prices, to boot), we ended up coming across some special small business I’d like to share.
If interested, I wrote a quick roundup of my favorite 15 things to do in Chinatown. Enjoy!
1. Artbean Coffee
Part-cafe, part-art shop, Artbean Coffee is the brainchild of a husband-and-wife duo eager to blend two passions: art and coffee. They roast their own beans using 100% arabica beans (I typically order standard black coffee, theirs is top notch) and also have creative drinks on offer, like ube lattes. Very friendly folks, it’s a great local spot!
2. Treats at Alimama
Life changing! Dramatic, I know, but this is the hill I’m going to die on (RIP old me). I opted for the black milk tea with boba cream puff and it was perfect. Super airy and light, the cream was mildly sweet but not overpowering. I’ve been thinking about this treat for 2 days now, which tells you everything you need to know. The mochi donut was also really good!
3. Lanterne Candles
Such a creative concept! Lanterne Candles lets you make your own candles (mixing the scents and decorating them). They run on a reservation-only basis, this would be a great spot for girls night (or date night). I book-marked it on my personal calendar and plan to pop in with Will around Valentine’s Day.
4. The Pork Lo Mein at Wo Hop
I’m probably the last person on earth who hasn’t been to Wo Hop, one of the most famous restaurants in Chinatown. I was drawn in my the “James Beard Award Winning Restaurant” banner outside (the James Beard Award is like the Oscars of the culinary world). Tempted, we hopped in the short line (it was past the lunchtime rush so the wait was less than 10 minutes). We ordered the pork lo mein and duck fried rice. The lo mein stole the show! We enjoyed the dish so much, we’re already plotting our return.
5. The Museum of Chinese in America
Free museums have a way of being (inherently) lame. Too honest? I don’t know, that’s been my personal experience, as least. But the Museum of Chinese in America (which is free) is well curated and thought-provoking. MOCA uses photographs and documents to chronicle the Chinese-American experience from the 19th century to the present. It was a very moving experience, one I highly recommend for anyone visiting Chinatown for the first time.
In the works
P.S. I’m working on a foodie guide to Chinatown. I’d like to visit the 20 most popular restaurants in the neighborhood and rank them based on personal experience. Frequent subway rides and stretchy pants are in my future, I’ll share my experiences here too (of course).
I hope you had a chance to get out of the house this past weekend, let me know if there’s any areas I should explore next. I’m thinking Midtown could use a deep dive!
Cheers!
Antonina
Antonina,
Some Saturday you might get on the A Train and take it to the end of the line north in Manhattan which is Broadway and West 207th Street at the very top of Manhattan which is Inwood.
If you get in the first 3 cars of the train you will get out at Isham and Broadway. One block west is the all-year round Saturday Farmers Market which is open from 9 am to 1 pm (check that this greenmarket is still operating on its former schedule post-Covid.)
Walk a coffee into the market so that you can then enjoy a pastry and check out Inwood Hill Park adjoining the market and the Columbia Boat Basin on the Harlem River, two blocks away from the market.
I wrote a book on Manhattan and the 50 years I lived there (1966 to 2016) but I haven't gotten it published yet -- in this book I tout Inwood as one of the last affordable neighborhoods on Manhattan Island.