Cheap, fast Chinese food in NYC

November 22, 2004 8:43 AM

NYCFilter: This should be a simple question, where can I get fairly decent, cheap, fast Chinese food in Soho or Chinatown? Details and Midtown analogies inside.

I work in Soho, specifically the Puck Building (corner of Houston and Lafayette Streets, a block from Broadway). In the immediate neighborhood all I've really found is a Subway and a passable pizzeria; but, I occasionaly tire of those and I do like Chinese/Japanese food (don't we all?).

My girlfriend works on and off in Midtown, and she's got a plethora of cheap & good Chinese/Japanese food to choose from when she's there--Yoshinoya's, a place that recently closed called Yip's, another place whose name I forget on 38th Street. They all offer your typical compact rice + meat (+ sometimes veggies) meal for approximately $3-6.

However, I haven't yet found any similar places around here, and I'm afraid to wander 10 minutes down to Canal and start trying random Chinese restaurants in Chinatown. Mostly because A) I wouldn't know where to start and B) I'm unsure what the general range of quality is down there.

So I'm hoping someone can suggest places they've been to or heard of that would offer some fairly cheap, fairly decent General Tso's or whatnot, that would be in this general area of Manhattan. Thanks!

posted by cyrusdogstar to Food & Drink (21 answers total)

Response by poster: Clarification, I'd be delighted for suggestions in Chinatown or Noho or whatnot--I realize that it might sound like I want to avoid Chinatown, which isn't the case. I just find daunting the thought of trying to explore its culinary scene without guidance.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 8:47 AM on November 22, 2004

"Suzie's" on bleecker (near sullivan) has a pretty good, reasonably priced lunch, and isn't too far from you. It's a sit-down place but the service is quick at lunchtime.
posted by Mark Doner at 9:16 AM on November 22, 2004

Chinatown has SO MANY good lunch places, it's scary. I miss working by City Hall when Chinatown was only a subway stop away.

Walk down Mott St. and you're in handsome shape. If you're in the mood for dim sum, there is Tai Hong Lou right off the corner of Mott and Canal. There is Big Wong (67 Mott), a perennial favorite: not much on decor but excellent food for excellent prices. Wander further down and you'll find a Shanghai-nese restaurant on the same side as Big Wong (it used to be called Evergreen, now it is called something else but it is still Shanghai cuisine.)

There are two Sweet 'n Tart cafes on Mott St., one at 76 Mott (right next to Tai Hong Lou and Canal St.) and one further down past Bayard St at 20 Mott St. Good food, fair prices, and a wide menu. The second S&T is bigger with nicer seating.

If you're in the mood for Peking Duck, go to the Peking Duck House right next to the 20 Mott Sweet 'n Tart. Pricier but more upscale than most other restaurants on Mott St.

Across the street from the 20 Mott Sweet 'n Tart is Hop Kee, one of my favorite places in Chinatown. You don't go for the decor but you go for the great food that comes in large portions. Cheap prices, wide menu, and excellent for groups - I like to go for dinner.

Mulberry St. has excellent Vietnamese fare. Travel south on Mulberry from Canal and you will find a number of pho and seafood restaurants which have excellent lunch menus.

Want more options? Just let me know and I'll be glad to go into further detail. :)

(Oi, now I am hungry!)
posted by moxyberry at 9:16 AM on November 22, 2004

It doesn't get much better or cheaper than Shanghai Cafe, on Mott just north of Canal St. A bit of a hike from the Puck Building, but completely worth it.

Also, you really should check out Crosby Connection, a little sandwich shop on the corner of Crosby and Bleecker. Fantastic $5 sandwiches, good soups, and excellent lemonade.

And Lahore, on Crosby and Houston, is pretty awful but very satisfying (not to mention dirt-cheap) Pakistani fast food that you might look into.

And La Conquita, on Lafayette and Spring, makes some delicious chicken and rice; last time I went, it was like $4 for about 3 lbs. of food.

Sorry for all of the non-Chinese suggestions, but you've got a lot of good, cheap food in your vincinity, thought I should share.
posted by saladin at 9:16 AM on November 22, 2004

Haven't been there in years, but Wo Hop, at 17 Mott Street, is fantastic. Ask if Leo the waiter is still working there - he'll treat you right. I honestly can't recall the prices, but it was surely affordable.

I have friends who used to drive down FROM MAINE specifically to go to Wo Hop.
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:16 AM on November 22, 2004

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far :D and moxyberry, do go on at length if you so desire, I doubt anyone will mind!
posted by cyrusdogstar at 9:35 AM on November 22, 2004

I second Wo Hop. Just down the street from Mei Dick.
posted by PrinceValium at 9:35 AM on November 22, 2004

There's Kelley & Ping on Greene Street between Houston & Prince.. It's not quite what you're looking for--slightly more expensive, for one thing, but still pretty budget. And it has an actual sit-down atmosphere rather than the BIG LIGHT UP PICTURES OF DISHES NUMBERED ONE THROUGH TEN kind of place you're talking about. But their soups and such are delicious and fresh, and they deliver or you can pick up takeout there.
posted by bcwinters at 10:48 AM on November 22, 2004

Best thing about Wo Hop- it's open 24 Hours ;)
posted by mkultra at 11:04 AM on November 22, 2004

Just north of you, at 62 Bleecker St, is a very decent take-out place called Hong Kong Restaurant. Walk up Lafayette and take a left. It's next to a shoe repair shop. Lunch special: $4.25.

The food is not amazing, but it's perfectly fine, and it's fascinating to watch the counter guy recall everyone's orders. The man has a mind like a steel trap. Plan on take-out; the food is far better than the atmosphere.

And I actually saw the counter guy dining at Singapore Cafe (69 Mott St), which I interpret as an endorsement by someone 'in the know.'
posted by hsoltz at 11:12 AM on November 22, 2004

Wo Hop, at 17 Mott Street, is fantastic.

Sorry to say that the last two times I was at Wo Hop it was awful. I don't know what happened. I had to apologize to my guests both times. The last time was earlier this year, probably spring, and before that a year ago in the summer time. The food was not very hot, the taste was rather bland, and the mood just felt off. I don't know what it was, but it felt like the place had been swapped out with a tourist shithole shoveling the same plate of noodles off as a dozen different dishes by only changing the garnish.
posted by Mo Nickels at 11:22 AM on November 22, 2004

Hong Kong Restaurant... The food is not amazing... the food is far better than the atmosphere.

I agree with this assessment. I was going to mention the place in my comment, but decided 'sleazy but the food is ok' isn't really an endorsement.
posted by Mark Doner at 11:46 AM on November 22, 2004

You also mentioned pizza. Slightly north of you is Two Boots To Go pizza... interesting place.
posted by reverendX at 11:52 AM on November 22, 2004

Mo: No! Say it ain't so about Wo! DAMN, I've had some great meals there. Sigh.
posted by Dr. Wu at 12:30 PM on November 22, 2004

Yeah, Mo's right: going to Wo Hop in the wee hours is a tradition, but the food is now terrible. For lunch, though, Little Green Bo is terrific.

I watched a model eat half a waterbug out of her soup bowl at Kelley & Ping a year or so ago.
posted by nicwolff at 1:23 PM on November 22, 2004

It may be a little out of the way but Joe's Shanghai is great. It's a fun atmosphere and the soup dumplings are incredible. It's on Pell St. between Mott and the Bowery.
posted by Shanachie at 2:20 PM on November 22, 2004

Funky Broome was a favorite lunch spot when I worked in soho. They have lunch specials that are cheap and the food is quite good. And right across the street is my favorite lunch of all time– the juice shop (third on list) that makes vietnamese baguette sandwiches (Banh Mi). For around $3 you get a large sandwich with really fresh, tasty ingredients. You can't beat it. I get the house special, spicy. I still hike once a week from tribeca when the weather is cooperative...
posted by lovejones at 2:50 PM on November 22, 2004

XO Kitchen was a great (cheap) place... don't know if it's still around. As for New Green Bo, the yellow fish w/ dried seaweed was great, but not $3-$6 cheap.
posted by sleslie at 5:53 PM on November 22, 2004

I'll also cast my vote for Shanghai Cafe (on Mott, just North of Canal (look for the pink neon inside)). Very fast, very cheap, and heavenly soup dumplings (don't miss 'em, I think they're #2 in the dim sum section of the menu... 'broth buns' or somesuch). It's my favorite Chinese food in the city.
posted by AvantBard at 9:14 PM on November 22, 2004

I'll cast a second vote for Hop Kee, I love that place.

And avoid that Two Boots pizza at all costs. It's blasphemy.
posted by TTIKTDA at 6:59 AM on November 23, 2004

Wo Hop is your #1 source for disgusting oleaginous glop shoveled onto plates and reheated. Go elsewhere--follow your nose or one of the other recommendations above. I've had amazing meals in Chinatown, just by using my instincts and wandering around.
posted by Vidiot at 9:39 PM on November 24, 2004