Note/Short Review- In short, I would highly recommend their salted chicken, whole fish, and zongzi. The dim sum is alright. Review otherwise is a bit discombobulated as we ordered a bit haphazardly. Open since 1967, Mee Sum Cafe is an old-school Chinatown spot that I went to a while ago for brunch. The prices have remained dirt cheap in comparison to most spots, with the only real comparable one being May Wah, though their menu in comparison is a bit more limited. The inside isn't modern in any sense, but this is part of the charm. Our group shared some tea and a few other items, with us also ordering some other dishes along with the dim sum. From the dim sum section, we got some of the Shrimp Dim Sum and Pork Dim Sum, with each of them containing four pieces. The former, or Ha Gow/Crystal Shrimp Dumpling, was $5.25 and was good. There was a plump shrimp inside, but the wrapper was a bit too chewy for my liking. My preference went to the slightly more expensive Shaomai/Siu Mai at $5.25, which had a wonderfully plump texture and just in general tasted a bit fresher. It was good overall, but there are also better spots for that. Someone also got a bun, which I believe was a cha siu bao/roast pork bun, which they thought was decent. We also shared some of the Sticky Rice Wraps, or Zongzi/Doong/Joong, depending on language. They have a bunch of different options, including Toison, Canton, and Shanghai, with a variety of fillings. I tried a bit of both the Shanghai style for $4.50 with pork and beans, and the Canton Style Special with pork, sausage, green bean paste, peanut, and egg yolk for $4.75. I slightly preferred the latter as the lap cheong/Chinese sausage added a fun touch of sweetness, and the Shanghai one felt a bit less dry. I had heard that their specialty, outside of their zongzi, was their salt chicken, so my main dish was their version of Three Combination On Rice/San Bo Fan. For $7.25, this came with a nice-sized portion of said specialty, along with a fried egg and 1.5 pieces of Chinese sausage. The chicken was very moist, and the ginger scallion sauce was very fragrant and quite delicious, especially when mixed with the chicken and rice. The egg was a bit over-fried for my liking, but I didn't mind, and the sausage added a touch of sweetness. I would go back and order this again in a heartbeat. One of the people noticed a Whole Fish on another table and ordered it. I believe it was around $12-$15, and it was prepared in a sauce with some fermented black beans/douchi, garlic, and other spices, which all added some salty and umami flavors. It was a bit bony, but hard to complain about the price point, with the fish also being tender and flaky. If this is available, I would recommend it. Another person got one of their congees, which he enjoyed. If you're looking for an old-school, no-frills, tasty Cantonese spot, stop here. I would go back to get more chicken, zongzi, or to try their excellent looking Mei Cai Kou Rou/steamed pork with mustard greens. read more

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Chinatown is changing for better and for worse way too quickly. It's hard to find mom and pop canto coffee shop these days. I specifically came here because i knew I could count of the old standbys: milk-tea-coffee and dried shrimp rice rolls. I relished listening to the counter ladies gossip in Toisan. read more

Known for its traditional Cantonese comfort food, Mee Sum serves up hearty meals with most dishes under $10. It's a no-frills, nostalgic diner-style spot that locals have cherished for generations. During my visit, Hing Jea, Mee Sum's manager who has been working there for over 20 years, made everyone feel right at home. She warmly greeted customers like old friends. She even treated my boyfriend a free lemon ginger drink. The restaurant is small, but they serve a variety of food like dim sum, congee, steamed rice, and zongzi. We got their most famous toisan style salted chicken rice. The ginger scallion sauce was best enjoyed with rice. The chicken had many bones but it was still delicious. The skin of the har gaw was a little bit dried out. I guessed their dim sum has been sitting in the steamer since early morning, as they open at 5 or 6 am every day. read more

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Walking into a time warp. Nothing has changed for decades. Probably looks about the same since opened in 1967. A diner's old-school nostalgia with low prices. The are known for their old school dim sum, and Toisan-style joong (steamed sticky-rice wraps which is a Chinese tamales. Filled with pork, salted egg yolk, peanuts, and mung beans wrapped in bamboo leaves. Tip: When reheating your joong, we recommend steaming it instead of microwaving it to prevent the rice from sticking to the bamboo leaves. This place is packed with old timers and nostalgia. Waiters bringing out steaming trays filled with freshly steamed dim sum. read more

Chinatown was once filled with family owned "mom and pop" eateries. Nothing fancy. You went in and saw some version of diner style stools at a bar, maybe some combination of Formica and Chrome with luster long worn out by decades of use. Staff spoke Chinese loudly at each other and service was more perfunctory than upscale. That said, the food had an authenticity about it that felt very unique from venue to venue. Two places could make the same dish and they could taste distinctly different (but both would be good). There was a comfort to this, but in 2025 there is not much of "old Chinatown" left. Fortunately Mee Sum Cafe is still around. Everything I described above still applies to this place. When you walk in there is a counter with several stools to eat right there. Behind the counter are several steamer cabinets, tea and coffee. Towards the back are tables, enough to maybe fit about 20ish people at one time. If you grew up in Chinatown in the 70's to the 90's, this will definitely bring back a sense of nostalgia. Here's what I had: Beef Balls This is a classic Dim Sum dish featuring steamed beef balls. The texture is a tad springy and chewy and the flavor was good. It wasn't the best version of this I've ever had, but it was perfectly fine (especially if you put some Worcestershire sauce on it). They were a bit too stuck onto their dish so bits of it were left stuck to the plate but that's kind of expected with this dish. Pork Shiu Mai This is another classic Dim Sum dish so I wanted to give it a shot. This was only "okay" due in part to the wrappers being a bit less soft than I would like. They were cooked through and the flavor was good however. Chinese Sausage Bun I actually bought this on the way out the door to eat later on the go. The bun was nice and tasty but I'm pretty sure only half a sausage is in this bun nowadays. Milk Tea This was a Lipton's tea bag with milk (but no sugar for me by choice). Nothing extraordinary here, but it also brought back a sense of nostalgia. Service was good. It wasn't with a shiny smile but it also wasn't gruff. The bathroom was well maintained (but not pristine). Basically it was a typical Chinatown bathroom, so no issues there. I enjoyed the trip back to another era at Mee Sum and I do intend to visit again! read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Beef balls and Shiu Mai with Milk Tea - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Mee Sum Cafe feels like a time capsule -- humble exterior, bustling interior. We ordered the har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, pork ribs, and minced beef with egg rice. Everything tasted fresh and handmade, especially the siu mai and pork ribs -- savory, juicy, and not greasy at all. We were a bit disappointed by the milk tea (too watery), but overall, for under $30 for two people, it's a steal. Perfect for a quick, no-frills dim sum fix with old-school vibes. read more

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Mee Sum Cafe 26 Pell St. New York, NY 10013 Zongzi I had low expectations when I ordered zongzi. In addition to having the appearance of a carcass, the name itself was kind of repulsive. My assumptions were put to shame as soon as I took my first bite. The meats blended well with the sticky rice wrap and I finished it down to the last grain! read more

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The place is still here and the food is still terrible. But this is an old timey Chinatown coffee shop the way it was in the 70's. Only old curmudgeons please. Everyone else not that welcomed. read more

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This spot is a true hidden gem, known mostly to locals. It's one of my favorite places to eat in NYC, offering delicious and affordable food. It's nothing like a fancy or typical restaurant when you walk in and see stacks of boxes along the walls and hear elders chatting in their native language, you know you've found the right place. It's not for everyone, but if you're like me and love an authentic local experience, this is the spot. A coffee costs just over $1, and my fried egg with rice was only $7 less than $10 for a meal that left me completely satisfied! read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Egg shrimp with rice and coffee. Paid $11 for this. Where can I find this in Orlando? Nowhere - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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I won't comment much on the service cause I wasn't expecting it to be great and it wasn't. We got our order to go and ate at a nearby park. In my opinion, the food was just okay. The shrimp dumplings were good - but the big bun filling wasn't for me. read more

Very solid place in Chinatown that has remained since its prime. I am very thankful this place has not been turned into another generic boba shop. They're known for Cantonese comfort food. Quite cheap. Service is okay. You only get to order once, your server will not come back. read more

Best sticky rice in NYC Chinatown! They do lunch box meals that are really down-home comfort food . Mee Sum has been a staple over the years and has a bunch of regulars that visit all the time. BYOB and get the whole fish Chinese style- the best! Small dining area- quick service, great prices- it's a dive but if you want good food and affordable meals this is the place! Great tea and coffee too! read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Outside in front of coffee shop - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

The beef rice roll has a unique texture and it is the reason why I always come here when I get a chance. read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Steamed Beef Rice Roll - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Total rip-off. I got the preserve vegetables and pork over rice for $7. A lot of rice and little of the pork and vegetables. In a small container too. I thought I try this place cause the reviews. It was all dry by the time I got it home. The gravy is the best part of the dish. Not going back again. There are better restaurants like 100 Bowery for this dish. read more

If you are not looking for anything fancy, just a bite to eat, step right up here at this little place on Pell Street in Chinatown, and experience one of the oldest of old school eateries. They even speak English! I would get my doong here. Tamales are an Hispanic version of this sticky rice and meat with salty egg and peanuts wrapped in a lotus leaf. The counter was lined with prepared whole fish when I stopped in on Friday at lunchtime. Cooked in a preserved black bean and garlicky sauce, it was delicious, but be sure to watch out for prickly bones. read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Must be a fluke. Only $9.00. - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Came here with my cousin for lunch after our girl's day (facial). They are known for their rice in a box dishes. We ordered: Beef rice rolls Salted half chicken Beef stew on rice Salted fish with Pork patty on rice Overall very good and fulfilling. We were tempted to get dessert and a few other dim sum options but this was more than enough for us. It was busy when we arrived but emptied out later on. Nice Hong Kong style diner. read more

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Havent been back in years. They still got it!Got the salty chicken and beef balls. Both items are good. read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Beef balls - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Food: I came here for one thing and one thing only, their toisan zongzi. I brought it home back to philly to enjoy and it was delicious. The bits of peanuts with the chinese sausage and salted egg all came together to make a satisfying savory snack. The rice was moist and fragrant from the leaf wrapper. Service: Service was quick and to the point Ambience: The inside is very diner like. There's some counterspace seating and it looked like there was some seating in the back as well. read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Toisan zongzi - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Saw a "foodie" on Instagram recommend this place but that big C rating from the Dept of Health stopped me in my tracks.

Absolutely the filthiest place. You legit have everything covered in black dirt. I saw a white bucket covered in black filth all over with raw meat. Nothing is cleaned. It looks like someone's garage. Absolutely cannot believe this place is still open. read more

Cash only. The food is okay, not great. The services were below average. I sat down and the waitress asked to move to a different table where the floor is dirty because she said the table I was sitting at is a staff table where they sit. I guess the only good thing about this restaurant is the low price. read more

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I decided to give this place a shot because I wanted congee for breakfast. It was surprisingly good for a cheap eat. I got the beef rice noodle roll and a bowl of pork and egg congee. The beef rice noodle roll had a generous portion of beef and super tender. The sheet noodle it came with was thin and complimented the beef well. The bowl of congee was piping hot. It needed to cool down before I could eat it but it was still good and well portioned. The service was great. Just walk in sit down somewhere and the ladies would take your order in English or in Chinese. This is a bit of a hole-a-wall place so they had a bar area with tables towards the back. The only thing I wished they provided people was a menu to look at before ordering but I think it's mainly because they have a lot of regulars. read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Be very careful when ordering from this place. They will sell you the more expensive glutinous rice dumpling even when you order the less expensive version. They wouldn't tell you until you pay. This is not a common business practice in the area. Better go somewhere else read more

The peanut zhong sticky rice wrapped and tied in bamboo leaves was flavorful. The grocery store Mei Mei zhongzi is tasteless m. But Mee Sum Cafe's zhongzi are delicious. They don't have chunks of fat that some places put in the zhongzi. You can eat them without adding soy sauce. All of their cheung fun rice crepes are made to order. I particularly like Cha Siu roast pork. The home made honey lemon ginger tea is perfect for soothing sore throats or keeping your body warm in this freezing cold weather. Food is good but service is meh. They forgot my cheung fun order. But they also switched someone's salted chicken order without their consent. Apparently it's only available in the afternoon. The table was given a different type of chicken that they didn't ask for. read more

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Mee Sum Cafe is hit or miss, but more misses than hits. Won't ding Chinatown restaurants for poor service, but the venue is small and dirty, and the dim sum is sometimes warm and other times freshly prepared. The wonton noodles are a major disappointment. read more

This place is similar to a Hong Kong Style diner. There happens to be counter seating due to space. I saw that the place still uses an old-fashioned manual cash register. I saw that the steamer still have some steamed buns, dim sum, and rice dishes. The prices are slightly more expensive than the DC Meat Deluxe shop as the items here are handmade instead of mass-produced. I ordered a peanut zongzi after realizing the Taishan zongzi (Toisan doong based on the Cantonese pronunciation) uses dried shrimp, lap chang sausages, and mung bean. The peanut zongzi has some dried shrimp and a small strip of lap chang sausage. The egg yolk was quite big given the size of the zongzi. read more

Had tried the joong (lotus leaf wrapped around rice) the first time I went, but went back to try their mini rice box lunch! I had the spare pork ribs with egg over rice, and they ask if you want drizzled soy sauce over it (get it! it's slightly sweet). It's a great lunch for an affordable price--at $5.50, it's a steal. Love that it looks like a local gem in chinatown that's been around for ages. Will continue to come back and support these local businesses :) read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Pork spare ribs with egg over rice (and soy sauce) - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

You won't find anything like this these days. This cafe is like stepping back in time to find simple village type Chinese breakfast and lunch. It tastes like nostalgia, your childhood, and feels like home if you're Chinese. The prices are great, but the quality cannot be beat. It tastes home cooked, but with the touch of a chef. You will not find these unique tastes anymore. They've not been commercialized and are true to their roots. Definitely worth a try if you're in Chinatown. Seating is pretty adequate. They even have counter booth seating. But stepping into the joint is an experience itself to see the equipment that must be decades old and where the previous generations have dined. read more

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This shop doesn't look like much from the outside but it's a mom and pops establishment since the beginning of time and one of the very few to still be around to this day. If you're looking for a full yumcha and dim sum experience you might not find it here even though they do offer dimsum but whether it's on par with one's expectations is a personal thing. What is pretty solid here is their salted chicken with ginger scallion over steamed rice. Top that with a fried egg and you're golden. Their peanut jong (sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves not to be confused with the sticky rice you get for dim sum) are also pretty solid. Overall it's a good spot for quick in and out service when time is of the essence. read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

The definition of a hole in the wall. Tiny place with 6 tables, and a long counter. I went there because they were open early, 8 am. I got the ginger lemon tea, it was okay and a taro cake. That taro cake was huge! Usually, at dimsum places you get 1 or 2 slices that are an inch thick and 2x3" long and wide. This pieces was like 3 or 4 of those pieces together. There was no meat or shrimp inside, but on 1 edge there was. I could have frankly done without them. But it was a very good taro cake. I will go back and try other things. read more

Blink and you may miss this unassuming restaurant/cafe' on Pell St. As old school Chinatown as it gets, this place must have been around for decades, and probably had never been renovated since it first opened. Which is part of the charm and what made me curious about it in the first place. We stopped a couple of times lured by the delicious-looking wrapped sticky rice (zonzi) on display, which are actually really delicious. Tasty and moist, and too easy to devour in just one sitting despite the size. We usually buy 2-3 and then eat them later on at home during the week. My impression is that this place serves mainly restaurant/grocery store workers, and has a clientele of regulars. At a table nearby there were 4 gentlemen that were served a delicious-looking slab of fish that the chef prepared just for them, as it was not on the menu. The group was also drinking from a bottle of Hennessy. At 12 noon... On the most recent visit we actually tried the food. Which is cheap and decent, but not particularly remarkable. Dim sum items come served on aluminum steam containers. You won't find hand-pulled noodles here, but rather the Mr. Noodle variety. The zonzi, though, are really among the best you can get in Chinatown. read more

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This review is just for the Zhong! I tried one last week and I thought the rice had so much flavor in additional to the ingredients inside the zhong. The one I tried was the extra ingredients one! Will have to stop by next time and see what else is going on at Mee Sum Cafe! read more

Their steamed roast pork buns leave a lot to be desired. They're skimpy on meat, not juicy and best to be avoided. One extra star for the nice owner who explained they've been in business for decades. Seems like they're known for other dishes and not pork buns. read more

Been here couple of times and so far still very satisfied with the quality and taste of their food. At first I came here for their rice dumpling as they provide everyday and there are wide range of selections. Then I had their fish, shrimp and egg lunch box and salty chicken lunch box. It's small and perfect size for women. Not too filling. The taste is great! When you see their interior you feel you walk into 70s. Great place to try! read more

Mee Sum Cafe - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Mee Sum, as described by other Yelpers, is an old-school place, and I would recommend visiting for that reason alone. The food is inexpensive though mediocre at best, but it and the restaurant itself both evoke frugal whispers of days past. Everything was served to us from aluminum pans when we visited. For a Chinese establishment, it was weird to see tins of metal forks and spoons at each table but no such tins for chopsticks. What We've Had: - Ngau Cheung (牛肠粉; Beef Rice Noodle Rolls): Unusually squarish in shape as Mee Sum doesn't do an extra fold that dim sum restaurants do. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. However, the beef is noticeably plainer, and the rice noodle and beef are both noticeably mushier than at other places. Mee Sum does not seem to serve sweetened soy sauce (for me and most kids, the main joy of this dish) alongside this dish -- you'll have to make due with the regular light soy sauce bottle on the table. - Siu Mai (燒賣; Pork and Mushroom Dumplings): Good and large. Pork fat is noticeable; could use more mushrooms. - Ha Gow (蝦餃; Shrimp Dumplings). Plain in flavor, but pretty good. - Lau Sah Bao (流沙包; 'Molten Salted Egg Custard Steamed Buns'): seemed purchased rather than made in-house. - Black Tea: for an inexpensive place, the tea was nice and strong. read more

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Really wanted to support small local business. This one has been around for a while. The food wasn't on par to what I through. Congee was tasteless the dim sum disappointing. But will be back to support this local mom and pop store that has been around for a while. read more

I really wanted to love this place but the food just wasn't up to par! It was a disappointing dim sum experience. We had the shrimp roll, pork buns, sticky rice in lotus leaf and everything just tasted bland and was off in the usual textures and flavors. Nothing was particularly memorable either so you're better off elsewhere for dim sum. Get their rice boxes though! We ordered the 3 combinations on rice and the salted chicken and pork with preserved veggies were so good. I noticed that most regulars who come here don't even look at the menu and just order the salted chicken on rice! read more

Talking about taking a step into history of Chinatown. Mee Sum Cafe is as old school as it gets. Do not come here if you like fancy dining and clean bathrooms. But come here is you love damn good food for a good price. The hargao shrimp dumplings where plump and melt in your mouth. The shunmia had a fresh rich pork texture and juicy. The shrimp rice noodles was like eating a noodle cloud with a big fat juicy shrimp in the middle. The meatballs where 3X the size I have ever seen before and so tasty. We also ordered a half of salted chicken that was juicy with scallion garlic to dip it in. The pickled chicken feet and organs was good but not my favorite way to prepare them. And small fried fish with sauce on top. And don't forget to grab some joong on your way out because they are loaded with goodness. Can't wait to come back here and try even more things and also get a few of the same things again. read more

One of the last remaining old-school dimsum parlours that isn't your typical style dimsum joints that you see around Chinatown. A hidden gem from the strip of hair salons, Mee Sum translates literally as Beautiful Heart, and it does need one to create and maintain a great atmosphere for the old and new. There is no cart operator around to hawk if you want spare ribs or chicken feet. There are no card stamps for every dish you ordered. There is no pushy waiters getting impatient with your indecisiveness between getting beef or shrimp rice rolls. There is, however, old world charm of what once was and remains here as a cozy, tiny establishment that serves up some delicious plates of food with no frills to the bills. read more

Mee Sum Cafe - "ha gao" - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Such an old-school staple of Chinatown, where the decor has not changed one bit since I was a child! Some folks will definitely agree it is a hole-in-the-wall place that most folks may not be interested to go to but for the price and quality of the meal - this is definitely delicious! My favorite thing to order since I was a child is their rice dish, which is steamed with a pork patty on top with a sliver of salted fish over it. It may not be something that everyone likes, but for a mere 5 bucks, it is worth a try if you are adventurous. The pork patty is mixed with some fat cubes and even some cubes of what I believe are chestnuts? Not even sure, but it is just perfect over the perfectly steamed white rice!! Other things that folks love to order include the 3 ingredient rice dish, which is normally steamed chicken, Chinese sausage and I forget the other item. This is another great meal that is small but you can get a taste of multiple types of meat! Dim sum or even rice dumplings are delicious! They really can't do anything wrong here that I absolutely love! I'm not sure of their staff's English level, but I do believe that this is worth visiting! The food is literally so delicious and I typically love this place!!! read more