How Local Spends $25 in Cheapest Neighborhood to Eat in New York City – ryan

  • New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood is full of delicious and cheap bites to eat.
  • Some of my favorite spots to visit are Mei Lai Wah and Super Taste.
  • I love the lavender green milk tea at Prince Tea House.

As a New York City local, Chinatown is one of my favorite neighborhoods to visit, and I often find myself there alone or with friends for quick and inexpensive bites to eat.

The neighborhood is exceptionally walkable, and has many great restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and trinket shops to explore.

If you’re planning a visit, I recommend bringing cash, allowing time for a stroll to see which places speak to your stomach, and, of course, coming hungry — restaurants in Chinatown are known for serving generous portions.

With all this in mind, here’s everything I ordered around town for $25.

Mei Lai Wah is a viral spot that lives up to the hype.

My favorite thing to order at Mei Lai Wah is the barbecue pork bun.

Alison van happy


Mei Lai Wah’s extensive menu has more than 40 dishes under $10.

However, don’t be deterred by the long line. Ordering is simple (there are two automated kiosks outside the bakery’s storefront), and employees are efficient, so the line moves quickly. Trust me, the wait is worth it.

Just be mindful of the weather during your visit. There is no seating available, so many customers perch on nearby sidewalks to enjoy their food.

What I order: I always get a barbecue pork bun. The baked one has a golden crust and soft inside, with generous amounts of sweet and chewy pork filing. Each one costs $2.50.

Super Taste gives me the best bang for my buck and never sacrifices quality.

I ordered 10 steamed pork and chive dumplings for just over $5.

Alison van happy


I love the complimentary house sauces available to dress up the dumplings at Super Taste.

The restaurant has the best crunchy chili oil I’ve come across; it’s full-bodied in flavor and has just the right amount of heat. I also like the house dumpling sauce.

Super Taste has a small indoor seating area with a handful of two and four-person tables that are first come, first served.

What I order: You can’t go wrong with the steamed pork and chive dumplings doused in the complimentary house sauces. Ten dumplings costs about $5.

Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is a hot spot for New York City locals and tourists alike.

Shu Jiao Fu Zhou serves a generous portion of peanut noodles.

Alison van happy


New York City locals and tourists flock to Shu Jiao Fu Zhou for its selection of soups, noodles, and dumplings — many items on the “hot menu” are $6 or less.

In my opinion, the peanut noodles are more than just a simple, vegetarian-friendly dish. The peanut sauce is silky and has the perfect combination of sweet and tangy flavors to complement the chewy noodles.

Shu Jiao Fu Zhao has family-style seating, so any open seat is fair game.

What I order: For just over $3, you get a heaping plate of whole wheat noodles with peanut butter sauce.

Prince Tea House is the perfect place to kick back with a friend.

I love the relaxing atmosphere at Prince Tea House.

Alison van happy


Prince Tea House was the most expensive stop on my food crawl, but I cannot recommend it enough. The atmosphere is relaxing, providing the perfect place for a solo date with a good book or for conversation among friends.

Each teapot sits on top of a platform with a lit tea light underneath so that every pour is nice and hot. The menu also offers a number of brunch items, snacks, and desserts to satisfy a sweet tooth.

What I order: A pot of lavender green milk tea, which has the perfect level of sweetness and is a beautiful, creamy shade of purple. For $11 (plus tip), each pot of tea is served beautifully with a set of matching teacups and saucers.