Top 5 Chinese Takeout Restaurants in Manhattan
With over two thousand Chinese food restaurants in New York City, trying to choose the best in Manhattan is no easy task – but fortunately the Tasty Find team is up to the challenge. Here’s our list of the top 5 Chinese takeout restaurants in Manhattan, based on flavor, value, authenticity and variety. Did your favorite local Chinese restaurant make the cut?
5. Hui Restaurant and Bar
A true hidden gem on the Upper East City, one of our go-to options for delicious and affordable takeout Chinese food in Manhattan is Hui Restaurant and Bar, especially when ordering for a large group. The takeout menu is huge and includes traditional Sichuan dishes such as dry pot and peking duck, as well as more crowd-pleasing classics such as sesame chicken or General Tso’s shrimp, so you can find something for everyone.
4. The Dumpling Shop
Here at Tasty Find, we love adventurous cooking, and The Dumpling Shop restaurant in Manhattan never fails to deliver with the incredible range of flavors on their takeout menu. Choose from classic dumplings such as The Original, with pork, cabbage and chives, or branch out and explore creations such as the Thai Green Curry dumpling, the Buffalo Chicken dumpling (complete with blue cheese dip), or our personal favorite, the Jamaican Jerk dumpling. While The Dumpling Shop comes it at Number 4 on our list of best Chinese takeout restaurants in Manhattan, we can confidently say these are the best dumplings we’ve ever eaten.
3. Café China
Café China is a traditional Sichuan restaurant which for several years was the only Michelin Star Chinese restaurant in Manhattan (and in all of New York City). While it controversially lost its star in 2020, it certainly hasn’t lost its coveted spot on our list of top Chinese takeout restaurants. Our favorite dish at Café China is the spicy cumin lamb, which is melt-in-your-mouth tender and just spicy enough to keep things interesting. It’s a must-try in our opinion, but if you’re not a fan of lamb, other delicious options on the takeout menu at Café China include the fried rice with tea smoked duck and dan dan noodles.
2. Joe’s Shanghai
This humble Chinatown establishment is best known for its soup dumplings, which consistently draw crowds of tourists and locals alike. Fortunately you can skip the inevitable lines at Joe’s Shanghai by ordering takeout, and slurp up your soup dumplings from the peace and quiet of your own living room. Other favorites on the Joe’s Shanghai takeout menu include the scallion pancakes, Shanghai noodles, and the crispy shredded beef. To be honest, you really can’t go wrong!
1. MaLa Project
Our top spot for best Chinese takeout restaurant in Manhattan has to go to local favorite, MaLa Project on 1st Avenue. They are known for their dry pots (meat and veggies fried in a wok with a signature blend of 24 spices) but also have several more adventurous options such as pig ears and lotus roots. Even the milder dishes on the menu have a decent kick to them, which you might want to keep in mind when choosing between ‘spicy’ and ‘very spicy’! Regardless of the spice level you choose, you can be sure that each bite at MaLa project will be more flavorful than the last.
