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Chinatown

4.2 (150 reviews)

Chinatown Photos

Recommended Reviews - Chinatown

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09/18/17
Marianne W.

Chinatown is one of my favorite places to visit. My favorite Aunt was half Chinese and half Irish! My uncle would take us all to Chinatown for the day when we lived in Connecticut. If you see my photos I last visited September 2025! I make it a point when I go to the Feast of San Gennaro. I'm going to adhere as best I can to the positivity of the Lunar New Year. I plan to get back to Chinatown again in 2026! I'm extremely happy and exuberant as I look forward to 2026. And I'm very excited to be recommending Chinatown to Yelpers everywhere!

Christopher T.

Love the Chinatown here, filled with such amazing restaurants, street vendors, shops, markets. And the prices are very reasonable and cheap too. Ate plenty of great & cheap foods here. But the only complaint I have is the smell, just not that great...especially when you purchase street food vendor and ate on the street corner and see restaurants washing their wastebaskets on the street and the smell is just (sometimes) unpleasant. Other than that, great town.

NYC Chinatown - Hustle & Flow!
DON C.

The hustle and food is real in this sector of NYC! I mean where else can you go and get the best roasted duck, pork yat, and....at the same time have someone walk up to you with a coat full of Gucci watches, David your man rings and Michael Kors handbags that look just like they came out of Nieman Marcus or Bloomingdales!! Ladies and Gentleman...this is Chinatown-NYC at its finest!!

Summer evening
Susan C.

Many describe New York City as a melting pot, though if you dive deeper into the fabrication of the neighborhoods, you'll notice it's really broken out into a multitude of ethnic enclaves. These provide peoples fitting into these groups a sense of belonging from shared backgrounds and often cultural and economic resources they may not be able to find elsewhere. Many people stick to their own roots and rarely venture out, however NYC is still a place where you have the opportunity (whether coerced due to population density or out of pure curiosity) to more readily see and experience cultures other than your own, which is a beautiful thing. Chinatown in Manhattan is one of those ethnic communities. While there are not clearly defined boundaries, for example the northern part of Chinatown technically overlaps with little Italy, the historic central portion of Chinatown is bounded by Chatham Square/Bowery, and the streets of Worth, Baxter, and Canal. This area was settled by the Chinese starting in the mid 1800s, when a wave of immigrants arrived during the peak of the California gold rush. From then, the cultural makeup of Chinatown has been in constant flux, both from A) a socio-economic development perspective--with early tongs arising for community, business, social and criminal reasons--then Five Points neighborhood in the mid 20th century (now integrated into Chinatown) being one of the most dangerous places in Manhattan, to the current mix of high and low-rise commercial and residential buildings, and B) from an ethnic standpoint, with different waves of immigrants thru the decades heralding from various parts of China and the Chinese diaspora. Nowadays Chinatown is probably best known for 1) food - all sorts of mostly Asian food and drink, via cafes, restaurants, groceries, bar/lounges, bakeries, food courts, 2) lots of touristy souvenir shops, 3) being the highest density Chinese community outside of China, though not necessarily the largest, 4) festive annual Chinese New Year celebrations, 5) more food, 6) cultural activities like the Museum of Chinese in America and NY Chinese Cultural Center, just to name a couple. Though not the oldest Chinatown in the USA (that honor belongs to San Francisco) and not necessarily the newest face of Chinatown in NYC (that's more like Flushing or Elmhurst) there's a grittiness about Manhattan's Chinatown that to me screams "if I can grind it out here then I can grind it anywhere." In the compounded stresses of tight quarters, aside from gastronomical delights you can find pieces of old and new traditions*, a varied collection of residents, and a spirit of resilience that keeps Chinatown moving forward. *from taichi and Chinese wei-chi and mahjong in Columbus Park, a number of Buddhist temples scattered throughout Chinatown, to hip hop dance practice and basketball tournaments held in Sara D. Roosevelt Park, any type of classes ranging from computer skills, badminton, ballroom dancing and self defense held at one of a few community centers.

Year of the Tiger 2022
Pamela L.

Happy Year of the Fire Horse 2026!! Neil Diamond's song, "Coming to America", is playing in my head as I write this review. The year was 1970. I had just turned 2 when we came to the U.S. from Hong Kong on one of the coldest February days. My mom always tells the story of how we landed at JFK with 2 feet of snow up to her knees. My beloved grandfather had settled in America 4 decades earlier before we arrived. Living in the outskirts of Chinatown has helped me not lose sight of where I came from. NYC's Chinatown spans roughly 50 blocks compare to SF's 30 square blocks. The city is one of the most expensive places to live in, but Chinatown offers tons of cheap eats. One can get an authentic delicious meal for under $10. I definitely miss some of the OG places when I was a kid like the old movie theaters and the bahn mi place ($2.50 a sandwich) under the subway tracks on East Broadway but it is cool to see new trendy places popping up. Here is my list of must visits: - Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (Asian-inspired flavors) - Hop Kee Restaurant (Authentic Cantonese food) - Joe's Shanghai (best dumplings) - Mei Lai Wah (best bbq roast pork & pineapple buns) - Peking Duck House (OG) - Spongies Cafe (my new favorite spot) - Xi'an Famous Foods - Wah Fung No. 1 (fresh roast pork and duck meats over rice) - Wo Hop (Authentic Hong Kong Cuisine) And the list goes on... I have visited many Chinatowns around the world, I might be a bit bias but I think we have one of the best one hands down. Come on down and see the best CNY Lion Dances (they train rigorously throughout the year) performed by the New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club aka Hung Ching. My BIL has been a part of this club for decades. It was founded in 1956, making it 70 years old this year.

Brian H.

Excellent shopping and delicious Chinese cuisine can be had in Chinatown. Nice souvenirs can be had for much more affordable price. Located right next to Soho, Chinatown is an excellent place to come if visiting New York. There's another Chinatown in Brooklyn which I heard is even cheaper than this which I find to be kind of ridiculous. Five stars and two thumbs up.

streets
Shwe N.

literally best spots for food value and taste wise... where else can u get hella dumplings for less than $10 or a whole bbq pork and duck over rice for $6... amazing rice rolls too omg

Maruko X.

I think the visit to Chinatown here is worth the trip for authentic and affordable food, tea, grocery, and snacks. Although it's not as big as other known Chinatown in SF, it is still a vibrant and bustling neighborhood offering a unique blend of culture and history beyond delicious food.

A different world
Toshi I.

Gritty and as real as it gets but felt safe. Outdoor vegetable stands and old grandparents shopping. We passed through to get to Little Italy which is right next to it.

Tofu over rice
Rhondi S.

Wonderful Chinese restaurants l from hike in the walls, noodle shops, Chinese pastry shops, nice sit down restaurants to dim sum and dumpling shops. Streets are full of produce vendors with fresh fruit and vegetables, other shops specializing in seafood with tanks of fresh fish, crab, lobsters, crawfish and more. Other shops range from inexpensive Asian knick nacks and souvenirs to expensive jewelry stores with beautiful gold or jade jewelry. Great place to walk around and experience one of the older Chinatowns in the US.

Pell St closed off for dining
Hank C.

Quick update, there's been a few moves of restaurants in the last few years, from Jing Fong (from the giant shop above Elizabeth to the modest one at Centre St), Wonton Noodle (off to Pell), and more, but the heart of Chinatown is still there - street vendors, negotiations and a bunch of people selling the knock-offs. Pell St was closed for part of the time now to put seating in the streets, and while some areas still could use a freshening and cleanup, others weren't too bad. There are some areas that have definitely lost a lot of small shops, but new ones like the Taiwanese Bear House and others have come to try their hand.

Duck
Marie S.

Lots to see, local delicacies, and gifts. You can even try a rambutan fruit or coconut water at one of the local vendor stands 2023 #86

Christmas tree and paper lanterns
Eloy Y.

Gong hei fat choy(恭喜发财) Happy Lunar New Year to those celebrating in many Asian countries including China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Tibet, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit /Cat in Vietnam symboling longevity, peace, and prosperity. Those born in a year of the Rabbit /Cat (2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927) are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded, and ingenious.

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Chinatown Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Chinatown

Is there a place to get children's books or songs in Chinese?

Try the public library on East Broadway and also the one on Mulberry St.

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Review Highlights - Chinatown

“1 (fresh roast pork and duck meats over rice) - Wo Hop (Authentic Hong Kong Cuisine) And the list goes on...”

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Freeman Alley - Love this alley to a passion

Freeman Alley

4.6(9 reviews)
0.5 mi•Bowery, Lower East Side

Been to Freeman Alley a couple of times. Yesterday went and to my surprise there were some…read moregraffiti artists painting. One of them named SoHo took a liking to my nephew and helped him paint & helped my niece paint as ℓℓ. The graffiti alley is constantly changing & is the only place in NYC that it's legal to do graffiti. I love going to all graffiti alleys.

I will admit that New York City has some really amazing hole-in-the-wall places that are worth…read morechecking out. But at what cost? Well, I will say that this experience that I had on my most recent trip was absolutely 100% FREE and worth every minute! And for anyone that truly appreciates some breathtaking artwork & graffiti, I definitely encourage you to visit "Freeman Alley". Located in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City, this alley is situated directly off of Rivington St and tucked in between Bowery/Chrystie St's. I ended up coming here during the night of Monday 10/13/2025 at around 10:30pm. Getting here is fairly simple as you can arrive by taxi, subway, rideshare, bike, or on foot. However, finding this alley can be a bit tricky. But once you're here, you will be blown away with the amount of amazing art in all directions. During my visit, I saw murals of past and present fictional and real characters that included Mr. Monopoly, Aaliyah, Count von Count, Ozzy Osbourne, and many more. There are also stickers that represent local businesses, organizations, and other various ways to advertise. From an artists perspective, this place is really unique but some might find some of the wording a little bit offensive. However, I enjoyed strolling through this alley as it represents much of what New York City is all about. My rating, a perfect five stars.

Photos
Freeman Alley - Aaliyah mural

Aaliyah mural

Freeman Alley - Amazing artwork in every direction

Amazing artwork in every direction

Freeman Alley - Absolutely love this artwork

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Absolutely love this artwork

Friends Apartment Building - Friends Building_Yelp_Sanju-7

Friends Apartment Building

4.4(42 reviews)
1.2 mi•West Village

Someone in our group was a fan, so this was on our list as a must visit. Nice visit to just stop by…read moreand take a picture. Quiet neighborhood, respectable people taking photos. Although not Central Perk and not set up as Central Perk, the exterior of the restaurant below was shown in the show and you can dine in here.

When in NY, had to pay homage to one of the most comforting shows on television, F*R*I*E*N*D*S…read more Here's my experience. VIBES: Welcome to Greenwich Village it's a historic neighborhood with nice buildings and cafes. The iconic spot is nestled in a lively corner of NYC with lots of foot traffic (tourists and locals alike), so parking isn't ideal -- I'd suggest subway or ride-share. The place has big energy: you feel like you're in an iconic, storied part of the city, which makes it fun and a little nostalgic thinking about all the episodes and references. I took no longer than like 15 minutes. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. If you're looking for a spot that mixes pop-culture nostalgia, solid fare, and a lively NYC neighborhood vibe -- this one's worth a stop. It leans more "moment experience" than "hidden gem," but its fun factor and overall quality make it memorable. I'll definitely keep it on my list for future visits and maybe bring F*R*I*E*N*D*S (ba-dum-tss) looking for an iconic NYC moment. TIPS: * The area is residential and mixed-use: be respectful, keep noise down if visiting early or late, and avoid blocking entrances.

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Friends Apartment Building
Friends Apartment Building
Friends Apartment Building

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SoHo - 8.29.2023

SoHo

4.3(95 reviews)
0.4 mi•SoHo

Why would you want to visit or stay in a neighborhood that Patti Smith says feels a living museum?…read more Hugged by Greenwich Village at the north (Houston), Little Italy to the eat (Lafayette), Tribeca and Chinatown to the south (Canal), and Hudson Square to the west (6th Ave), the farmland turned into an affluent enclave, with the highest concentration of cast-iron architecture in the world in the 1800s. As the rich moved north, the district became NYC's premier retail, entertainment, and "hospitality" corridor (1850-1880) to industrial manufacturing center, especially garments and textiles (1880-1960) to target for demolition for a highway project. But then the artists came in, the reports claimed the area was vital, and preservationists protected it, allowing it to become the international center of the avant-garde art world in the 70s and 80s. Today, the neighborhood allegedly functions as a major upscale international shopping district, despite the fake handbags on blankets on the illegal sidewalk sales. I got a good deal on a Kartier watch. So, the vibe is rigid, geometric, heavy iron meets Belgian cobblestones, for a grounded and old feeling in contrast with the soaring ceilings, oversized windows, and wide open floor plans that flood the area with pale, northern light, which gives it the historic but chic museum feel. Plus, there is a lingering cool factor, a quiet swagger, rooted in the creative rebellion. If SoHo were a cocktail mixed from southern California neighborhoods, it would be 40% Los Angeles Arts District (structurally and historically), 34% Abbot Kinney/Venice (hyper-curated indie retail and open-air runway feel); 25% Old Pasadena (living museum feel), 1% Hollywood (the touristy-heavy trashiest parts locals avoid). But, my wife and I love it because of the location and the many shops, restaurants, experiences, and bars within a square mile. Check my reviews on Dominique Ansel, Trader Joe's, Polo Ralph Lauren, Uniqlo Soho, a Target boutique, Lucia Pizza, McDonald's, Aviator Nation, 260 Sample Sale, Softside, $1.50 Pizza, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Plus, within walking distance: Hamburger America and Emily (Greenwich Village), Prince Street Pizza, Thai Diner, and 7th Street Burger (Nolita), Solita Soho Hotel, Ceres, and L'Industrie Pizzeria (Little Italy), Au Cheval, All Blues, and Best Western Soho Hotel (Chinatown), and the Ghostbusters Fire Station, Roxy Hotel, and Bubby's (Tribeca).

Put on my walking shoes and off I am to SoHo. Shopping at unique boutiques. Feasting my eyes with…read morestimulating street art and art galleries. Savoring at enchanting coffee shops and iconic restaurants. I love it here! CHEERS!

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SoHo - CitiBike rack

CitiBike rack

SoHo - Art vendor of Prince Street

Art vendor of Prince Street

SoHo - Rainy night

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Rainy night

Chinatown - localflavor - Updated October 2026

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