As a Cantonese person, I went to Nom Wah in late November and was super disappointed. Took my family who loves dim sum and everything was stale and I was probably the only chinese person in there (usually a bad sign).
Agreed. If you don’t see a lot of Asians in an Asian place, run. On the flip side Koreans really only try to go to Korean spots where all the older Koreans go to.
As famous as Nom Wah is in NYC, when you find yourself in San Francisco again, look up "Hang Ah Tearoom" -- it's America's oldest dim-sum restaurant -- opened 1920. It's been under different ownership, but is still in the same place in SF Chinatown. My mom and grandparents first went there in 1953 on mom's summer break between high-school in Hawaii, and college in California; my first time was in 1995.
I love Mei Lai Wah. For Joe's, yes the line is long but the soup dumplings are excellent (albeit pricey.) I have spots I prefer in Queens (Shanghai Zhen Gong Fu) but it's still solid. For a low-key hit, I'd highly recommend Double Crispy for their egg tart, specifically their Macau style.
I ❤ NYC! I'm a savvy senior travel junkie & a NYC fanatic! I've been visiting since 1975. For me, it was always about the food & the shopping. I fell in love with bao/soup dumplings @ Joe's Shanghai on Pell Street in the 90's. It's been a few years since my last NYC visit. Super happy to hear Joe's is still the bomb! If you ever want to know about the older spots, I'm your girl. I know so much about NYC for a non-local, it's scary. I greatly enjoy your videos. So much changes, so much stays the same!
Jesus Christ. Nom Wah charges an arm and a leg. You’ll never see an old Chinatown grandma in there anymore😢. Always praying that my favorite and the best, local places stay off UA-cam and TikTok😂😂. I would cry if I saw a line of tourists outside of them😅
Nom wah is to be ashamed of themselves! I don't need to say more about their greediness and uncaring of their customers support, read the emotional reviews online of many disappointed people who went there! I had friend who went and came out hungry still because the sky high prices did not let him to order more than 3 items. He had to go to mcDonald's a few blocks down to fill his hunger.....and that is sad and ridiculous!
I finally went to Nom Wah a few months ago and was highly disappointed. Much better dim sum elsewhere. Looking forward to trying Joe's, but they have a long way to go in beating Nan Xing Xao Long Bao on 32nd between 5th and 6th. The soup dumplings are as good as in their Flushing location.
I'm a recent follower but frequent solo traveler to NYC. I will be visiting several of your recommendations on my visit next month. Thank you for your insights.
For the soup dumplings, noodle village is as good as Joe Shanghai. And cheaper, I like both though, just in case any of you want soup dumplings and go in a busy day with long line you can give a try to the other one
“Tea is $3 per person. Not free” Ben: I’m drinking water. Spoken like a true Asian lol. Back in the day, hot tea is comp and refills. Not used to paying for it.
You should mention the Joe’s Shanghai serves 8 soup dumplings per order not 6 as in other places and have been consistently doing that since the 1990’s.
Xiaolong bao in China is just very common street food that people eat everyday. I tried almost every xiaolongbao I can find in NYC ..None of them is even close to what I had in Shanghai
During the 1980’s and 90’s I don’t recall seeing anyone eating inside Nom Wah. It seemed barely functioning as a restaurant. It’s amazing how just in the past 20 years it’s become this destination dining experience. From a local’s experience.
The only really good place in Orlando is Lam garden in downtown Orlando kinda near the fashion square mall. It’s not really all that big or famous just its good. Chan’s was my go to for a while but the land was sold to the university of Florida for a research or classroom building (I don’t know which) now it’s being built on. I swear Chinatown in Orlando is starting to look like the crowded parts of Manhattan just a touch more space, kinda feels like that too. Nom wah isn’t that bad just the ingredients they use tend to cost more especially since the owner goes out every morning to buy stuff in Chinatown locally plus inflation and you get that price. Have you seen the prices in nyc lately. Most restaurants tend to buy in bulk with no idea where stuff comes from, those that shop locally tend cost more as they want to know where stuff comes from and it’s cost. Yeah that stuff might be from the wholesale market in Brooklyn but how it gets there is a huge chain of events which costs a lot.
The first legendary place w 50s vibe for $8 each I don’t think expensive at all but yeah 30 minute wait unless you have the time and w great friends… awesome tour vid!
Great video as always. Heading to Chinatown for the first time as part of our week in April. Adding one or two of these to the list. If I don’t leave New York at least 10 pounds heavier it will be a miracle…
0:57 $3 for a cup of chinese tea is ridiculous!!! You could buy a 500g box of the same tea leaves for that amount! The dim sums are fairly reasonable prices though at around $6.
$32 for 4 people is cheap lol. My hometown to eat a lot (full) the bill is over $85 for 2. Dim sum is very much labour intense and expensive meat base products (pork, chicken, prawns) takes lots of energy (gas steam) long hours, high property, production machines, stainless steel kitchen & utensils etc. So factor in everything, the cost of final product is indeed expensive. Its an environment of eating in small portions and lots of it. And tea is expensive also. Its not free. Just the quality puer tea are stored aged over 15 years and one cake cost around US$250
Great seeing a tutorial for how to eat soup dumplings, and two different methods too. I went to Mei Lai Wah last summer without even knowing it was a famous place. I found zero line, got the pineapple pork bun, but didn't really think it was very good: bizarre seeing your comments here! Great video Jon, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Could you make a video for tri-state travelers? I'm from Pennsylvania and have been to New York twice for day trips but would like to maximize my experience for my next day/weekend trip in the future!
@herebebarr Love the channel, food and NYC. Heading back in October and will definitely hit up a few recommended spots. What about the best gyro or kebab spots in Manhattan or Queens?🌯
Waited roughly an hour for Joe’s Shanghai and would 100% do it again! There’s a nice bar next door that we passed the time in, if you find yourself in a longer wait time.
Joe’s Shanghai is trash. Same with Nam Wah. You influencers needs to find better resources before claiming these restaurants are “good”. But I do agree, Mei Lai Wah’ pork buns are still the best. I’m 42 and have been going there since I was a toddler. And when they had twine snaking around the ceiling for their pastry boxes. Glad they haven’t changed their pork buns recipe.
John Hi, can you please do a review on the Chicken restraunt near the Westin Hotel on 42nd Street, you enter and you sit upstairs, it’s along the same side as the Westin. Also the Fish place where you go up in the lift. I visited these when I was in NYC last November. Respect. Also there is a sandwich shop opposite the Westin I got an awesome Capacino Muffin in there. NYC is just on another level from London and the UK. I am going back asap. Your video on the Subway, because I educated myself with that I saved $500 Dollars buying a Subway ticket and topping it up, it was good fun on the Subway.
Hear me out. This a dim shop shop in a random alley in New York. It was probably good at one point when customers trickled in and the people at restaurant made the food with care and love. The owners are probably uneducated immigrants who aren't capable of scaling to demand. As an Asian I know from experience when the price goes up... quality goes down. Especially if there hasn't been any noticeable differences for the betterment of the restaurant. There's an old saying too much of a good thing is bad for you. Stop being sheep and explore other options. Dim sum is simple, but the prep takes forever. I think the community will appreciate it more is the wealth is spread vs pooled up in one restaurant that's falling behind the times.
It used to be absolutely no line at Mei Lai Wah. You could just walk in and out for a quick bite. Now the line is insane thanks to social media and I haven’t been there since then.
lol if you go to any chinese/asian restaurant, and its filled with non-asian/tourists then you know its not good and tourist traps!!. My rule of thumb is only go to ones, where its frequented by with old Chinese grandma/grandpa clientele. Then you know its legit!
I’ve never seen people pouring soy sauce on to the metal steamer, which made the cleaning more difficult. It’s totally unnecessary to eat siu mai with soy sauce.
Joe Shanghai’s soup dumplings is better than a famous soup dumpling place I went to in Shanghai! My family buys the frozen crab pork dumplings from Joe Shanghai and steam at home. Nothing else in Joe Shanghai did I have and think is a must have.
Chinatown in NYC was our only big disappointment 2w ago as 1st timers. Food is average and queues too long for recommended restaurants. Not in the same league as London or Bangkok. I even liked the small one in La Havana better!
Joe's Shanghai we went to the original we were at a communal table, everyone at our table was eating soup dumplings, we didn't know about soup dumplings and that was the go to place, we ordered entrée type dishes, when our food arrived our table mates all said "Aww you didn't get soup dumplings", we had to tell them we didn't know, I've never had soup dumplings, then our table mates said after they finish their soup dumplings they go to Nom Wah I forget what they said they get maybe dim sum, I like the dim sum at Vanessa's it's been a while since I was there but when we went it was cheap, I don't care for roast pork buns they're too bun like LOL
If this video made you hungry, scroll back up and smash that like button!
🛒 SHOP our NEW NYC Guides For Your Next Trip: www.thatch.co/@herebebarr
Now you have to go to the son's restaurant. Joe's Home of soup dumplings it's in the city near Saks
Hard of hearing guy here, and I'm loving the captions with additional information, locations and prices..takes your videos to a whole new level..😎
Glad you like them!
We're never gonna get tired of dim sum, soup dumplings, and pork buns!
Some places are DEF worth the wait 🤤
You've turned me into a chinatown-aholic
As a Cantonese guy who also happens to be a former food writer, Nom Wah is pretty overrated.
The food _looks_ overrated. I'm sure it's good, but I don't know how long I'd wait in line. The pan fried dumpling didn't impress me at all.
So is Joe's Shanghai, thank you NY Tourists for supporting these local businesses though 😀😀🙏🙏
You can just see that from the demographics of the customers 🤣
@@lp9669 👍 Lol! If it isn't mostly Asians in the line up, it's not likely very good. It might be a cliche, but 💯 FACT.😄
its always been overrated
As a Cantonese person, I went to Nom Wah in late November and was super disappointed. Took my family who loves dim sum and everything was stale and I was probably the only chinese person in there (usually a bad sign).
It was 90% tourists/non-chinese new yorkers during our visit.
Where to go in NYC for the best dim sum? Dim sum is very innovative these days.
Agreed. If you don’t see a lot of Asians in an Asian place, run. On the flip side Koreans really only try to go to Korean spots where all the older Koreans go to.
its overhyped always, tourists are always there every day
@@cindiqq2292 mee sum cafe , jing fong,
Happy to see these places are all packed in 2023, waiting in line with friends is part of the experience :)
thanks tourists
Almost at 350K
Excellent! Thumbs up
Joe's Shanghai's soup dumplings being better than most of those you can get in Asia (this includes Din Tai Fung) is a very true statement.
Loving the channel, I would love to see a video on watching NYC sports as a tourist for example knicks v nets etc
Prob my most requested video I need to do
As famous as Nom Wah is in NYC, when you find yourself in San Francisco again, look up "Hang Ah Tearoom" -- it's America's oldest dim-sum restaurant -- opened 1920. It's been under different ownership, but is still in the same place in SF Chinatown. My mom and grandparents first went there in 1953 on mom's summer break between high-school in Hawaii, and college in California; my first time was in 1995.
On my list :)
jon's mouth shaking at 4:46 trying to be as gentle as possible 😁😂🤣 'nother marvelous video!!!!
I love Mei Lai Wah. For Joe's, yes the line is long but the soup dumplings are excellent (albeit pricey.) I have spots I prefer in Queens (Shanghai Zhen Gong Fu) but it's still solid. For a low-key hit, I'd highly recommend Double Crispy for their egg tart, specifically their Macau style.
Food is always an experience with you Jon and I love it. You are the master of Food experience. Keep on grinding my great friend.
Thanks!
I ❤ NYC! I'm a savvy senior travel junkie & a NYC fanatic! I've been visiting since 1975. For me, it was always about the food & the shopping. I fell in love with bao/soup dumplings @ Joe's Shanghai on Pell Street in the 90's. It's been a few years since my last NYC visit. Super happy to hear Joe's is still the bomb! If you ever want to know about the older spots, I'm your girl. I know so much about NYC for a non-local, it's scary. I greatly enjoy your videos. So much changes, so much stays the same!
I want you to make a review of the free or public toilet in NYC, please.
Especially in a tourist place.
Making up a list of food spots for my trip this monday definitely adding Mei Lai Wah to the list
My favorite spot in chinatown, NYC, is the big wong. Just looked it up it's still there. And prices for portion worth it. (This was 7 years ago btw)
Dai Wong is the best!
Jesus Christ. Nom Wah charges an arm and a leg. You’ll never see an old Chinatown grandma in there anymore😢.
Always praying that my favorite and the best, local places stay off UA-cam and TikTok😂😂. I would cry if I saw a line of tourists outside of them😅
Come to Richmond, BC, Canada... Best Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Szechuan, etc.) outside of Taiwan and Mainland.
Nom wah is to be ashamed of themselves! I don't need to say more about their greediness and uncaring of their customers support, read the emotional reviews online of many disappointed people who went there!
I had friend who went and came out hungry still because the sky high prices did not let him to order more than 3 items. He had to go to mcDonald's a few blocks down to fill his hunger.....and that is sad and ridiculous!
Hop Sing had the absolutely best Roast Pork and Pineapple Buns hands down, missed that place
I finally went to Nom Wah a few months ago and was highly disappointed. Much better dim sum elsewhere. Looking forward to trying Joe's, but they have a long way to go in beating Nan Xing Xao Long Bao on 32nd between 5th and 6th. The soup dumplings are as good as in their Flushing location.
For soup dumplings, go to Supreme on Mott Street, underated soup dumplings. Might be the best in Chinatown.
best is flushing always
We hope you're doing well. God bless you no matter what.
I'm a recent follower but frequent solo traveler to NYC. I will be visiting several of your recommendations on my visit next month. Thank you for your insights.
For the soup dumplings, noodle village is as good as Joe Shanghai. And cheaper, I like both though, just in case any of you want soup dumplings and go in a busy day with long line you can give a try to the other one
Mei lai wah.....my go to. The most packed bun you could get and its only a 1.80. Greater ny noddletown is my other go to for roast pork.
“Tea is $3 per person. Not free”
Ben: I’m drinking water.
Spoken like a true Asian lol. Back in the day, hot tea is comp and refills. Not used to paying for it.
I have always liked and will continue to go to Green Bo. Was always my favorite.
That is my all time fave for soup dumplings
You should mention the Joe’s Shanghai serves 8 soup dumplings per order not 6 as in other places and have been consistently doing that since the 1990’s.
Xiaolong bao in China is just very common street food that people eat everyday. I tried almost every xiaolongbao I can find in NYC ..None of them is even close to what I had in Shanghai
Get the fronzen Chinese snack from any flushing market with only 10% of the price ...They taste almost the same..
During the 1980’s and 90’s I don’t recall seeing anyone eating inside Nom Wah. It seemed barely functioning as a restaurant. It’s amazing how just in the past 20 years it’s become this destination dining experience. From a local’s experience.
tourists
ben putting the whole dumpling in his mouth is amusing
The only really good place in Orlando is Lam garden in downtown Orlando kinda near the fashion square mall. It’s not really all that big or famous just its good. Chan’s was my go to for a while but the land was sold to the university of Florida for a research or classroom building (I don’t know which) now it’s being built on. I swear Chinatown in Orlando is starting to look like the crowded parts of Manhattan just a touch more space, kinda feels like that too.
Nom wah isn’t that bad just the ingredients they use tend to cost more especially since the owner goes out every morning to buy stuff in Chinatown locally plus inflation and you get that price. Have you seen the prices in nyc lately. Most restaurants tend to buy in bulk with no idea where stuff comes from, those that shop locally tend cost more as they want to know where stuff comes from and it’s cost. Yeah that stuff might be from the wholesale market in Brooklyn but how it gets there is a huge chain of events which costs a lot.
Used to go to Nom Wah 20 years ago
I've never gone to those place, Wo Hop is my favorite (downstairs)
Loving the choices you made
Epic soup dumpling experience 😅😂
Aww I miss you all
🙌🏼🙌🏼
Flushing in Queens have better Chinese food :-)
The first legendary place w 50s vibe for $8 each I don’t think expensive at all but yeah 30 minute wait unless you have the time and w great friends… awesome tour vid!
Great video as always. Heading to Chinatown for the first time as part of our week in April. Adding one or two of these to the list. If I don’t leave New York at least 10 pounds heavier it will be a miracle…
Great content as always! Definitely will be going to the 2nd spot for those dumplings when I come back.
0:57 $3 for a cup of chinese tea is ridiculous!!! You could buy a 500g box of the same tea leaves for that amount! The dim sums are fairly reasonable prices though at around $6.
For Yorkers headed to T.O., Juicy Dumplings still advertise the soups dumplings @ $3.99 CDN, you're welcome. Best on-the-go, and best price, ever.
Tai pan bakery the best pineapple bun aka sweet bun! Fyi also busy all day 🥮
Good video!
Missing NYC with your videos! I shall be back soon. Ty for the videos…I think..lol
Looks fantastic, thanks.
I just love me some Ming.
$32 for 4 people is cheap lol. My hometown to eat a lot (full) the bill is over $85 for 2. Dim sum is very much labour intense and expensive meat base products (pork, chicken, prawns) takes lots of energy (gas steam) long hours, high property, production machines, stainless steel kitchen & utensils etc. So factor in everything, the cost of final product is indeed expensive. Its an environment of eating in small portions and lots of it. And tea is expensive also. Its not free. Just the quality puer tea are stored aged over 15 years and one cake cost around US$250
Love all the places you visited. I would also add Vanessa's, I still miss their East Village location.
I think that food looks great. It's well worth the wait. Cheers! ✌️
the fact that you get charged for tea at chinese restaurants is another thing, Tea is usually free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ben's soup dumpling eating techique is the best. LOL. Drop that whole sucker down.
hahaha
Great seeing a tutorial for how to eat soup dumplings, and two different methods too. I went to Mei Lai Wah last summer without even knowing it was a famous place. I found zero line, got the pineapple pork bun, but didn't really think it was very good: bizarre seeing your comments here! Great video Jon, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Flushing better Chinatown younger people who know the trends in china and homg Kong
Try the new Jing Fong on I think Center or Lafayette
Could you make a video for tri-state travelers? I'm from Pennsylvania and have been to New York twice for day trips but would like to maximize my experience for my next day/weekend trip in the future!
Food looks amazing
@herebebarr Love the channel, food and NYC. Heading back in October and will definitely hit up a few recommended spots. What about the best gyro or kebab spots in Manhattan or Queens?🌯
Waited roughly an hour for Joe’s Shanghai and would 100% do it again! There’s a nice bar next door that we passed the time in, if you find yourself in a longer wait time.
Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings, 22 East 48th Street, has the best soup dumplings in Manhattan, hands down!
If you love soup dumplings. Next time you’re in LA go to Din Tai Fung. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Will definitely go to this place during August this year when we visit NYC again.
And thank you ! @Bing buzz
My favorite technique to eating a soup dumpling is the "burning your mouth and staining your shirt from the soup method" 🤣
hahahaha you and Ben ahve a lot of in common.
Hahah you & Ben 😂😂
@HereBeBarr please make a video about the zoos
These are places in Chinatown that I will check out Jon !
ok.... xiaolongbao for lunch tomorrow for me ....
You hold chopsticks better than bingbuzz
She is so brave for eating in front of a camera
I’ve to keep telling myself that I should have eaten something before I press play on your videos
😂Oh my goodness Jon. you're making me hungry, need to look for some dumplings resto here in Ireland, which is kinda uncommon. Goodluck to me.
There used to be a Joe's Shanghai in Flushing, Queens that I would go to all the time, great food, sadly it now gone.
Will definitely check out those places! Like to see you try the amazing beef jerky from Singapore Malaysia beef jerky in chinatown!
Joe’s Shanghai is trash. Same with Nam Wah. You influencers needs to find better resources before claiming these restaurants are “good”.
But I do agree, Mei Lai Wah’ pork buns are still the best. I’m 42 and have been going there since I was a toddler. And when they had twine snaking around the ceiling for their pastry boxes. Glad they haven’t changed their pork buns recipe.
John Hi, can you please do a review on the Chicken restraunt near the Westin Hotel on 42nd Street, you enter and you sit upstairs, it’s along the same side as the Westin. Also the Fish place where you go up in the lift. I visited these when I was in NYC last November. Respect. Also there is a sandwich shop opposite the Westin I got an awesome Capacino Muffin in there. NYC is just on another level from London and the UK. I am going back asap. Your video on the Subway, because I educated myself with that I saved $500 Dollars buying a Subway ticket and topping it up, it was good fun on the Subway.
In Budapest, (Hungary, Europe), the Hungarian and Italian cuisine are more respected
Didnt that used to be home of the triads?
My favorite place is noodle village.
I rememeber when Joe's was on Pell Street. Looks too commercial now.
Still looks delicious.
Hear me out. This a dim shop shop in a random alley in New York. It was probably good at one point when customers trickled in and the people at restaurant made the food with care and love. The owners are probably uneducated immigrants who aren't capable of scaling to demand. As an Asian I know from experience when the price goes up... quality goes down. Especially if there hasn't been any noticeable differences for the betterment of the restaurant. There's an old saying too much of a good thing is bad for you. Stop being sheep and explore other options. Dim sum is simple, but the prep takes forever. I think the community will appreciate it more is the wealth is spread vs pooled up in one restaurant that's falling behind the times.
It used to be absolutely no line at Mei Lai Wah. You could just walk in and out for a quick bite. Now the line is insane thanks to social media and I haven’t been there since then.
Indeed...
Excellent video as always Jon! I'm on my way into the cinemas now to see what Ghostface thinks of NYC! 🤣💯
Did Ben say like foreplay. Lol and i thinks joes Shanghai is good but is overrated. And mein Lai way is the best. Great video Jon.
lol if you go to any chinese/asian restaurant, and its filled with non-asian/tourists then you know its not good and tourist traps!!. My rule of thumb is only go to ones, where its frequented by with old Chinese grandma/grandpa clientele. Then you know its legit!
I’ve never seen people pouring soy sauce on to the metal steamer, which made the cleaning more difficult. It’s totally unnecessary to eat siu mai with soy sauce.
It’s also weird to put vinegar into the soup dumplings.
Joe Shanghai’s soup dumplings is better than a famous soup dumpling place I went to in Shanghai! My family buys the frozen crab pork dumplings from Joe Shanghai and steam at home. Nothing else in Joe Shanghai did I have and think is a must have.
Chinatown in NYC was our only big disappointment 2w ago as 1st timers. Food is average and queues too long for recommended restaurants. Not in the same league as London or Bangkok. I even liked the small one in La Havana better!
Nom Wah is for tourists. As a kid who grew up in Chinatown, I would never eat at Nom Wah cuz it's just not good.
i mean we're not obsessed, Tourists are obsessed. we're just ok wit them
How did you feel when it was your first time in New york
TRUST ME THE BEST CHINESE RESTAURANTS ARE IN QUEENS AND BROOKLYN MOST OF THE ONES IN MANHATTAN ARE ABOVE AVG AT BEST
-- Why did the title of this video change like 3 different times?
As a creator if a video isn't performing where I think it should be, I test different titles. It's actually quite common on UA-cam.
Never go to a Chinese restaurant where you don't see Chinese sitting there
Joe's Shanghai we went to the original we were at a communal table, everyone at our table was eating soup dumplings, we didn't know about soup dumplings and that was the go to place, we ordered entrée type dishes, when our food arrived our table mates all said "Aww you didn't get soup dumplings", we had to tell them we didn't know, I've never had soup dumplings, then our table mates said after they finish their soup dumplings they go to Nom Wah I forget what they said they get maybe dim sum, I like the dim sum at Vanessa's it's been a while since I was there but when we went it was cheap, I don't care for roast pork buns they're too bun like LOL
Yo John for your next video can you do a review on the R 211 Please they just came out today
DEFINITLEY on my list
@@HereBeBarr
Look on Far Rockaway they’re there
Always like the vibes of your videos & same here.... BUT even if these little plates are fresh etc it seems like pouring soy sauce kinda makes it
I’m not a pork eater, but that sure looks good.
Because no one cooks anymore. S/o to the restaurant industries for making us feel like cooking requires a degree