Everyone knows New Yorkers can't live without Chinese food. Why? Well, it has got to be those hours, that price, and that dim sum we dream about.
It's also a well known, albeit unofficial, Jewish tradition to munch on Chinese food on Christmas day, the day everything else in the city is closed up and boarded, not a sound to be heard, not even a mouse.
If you've ever been to Chinatown on Christmas, you'll know it's anything but silent. It's packed, noisy, and delicious.
According to AM New York, New York Chinese restaurants report Christmas day to be their busiest day of the year.
Is it written into the Torah that Jews must consume Chinese food on Christmas day?
Well, no, it isn't, but it might as well be. It used to be that Chinese food was the only cuisine available when everybody closed their restaurants for the holiday. With that no longer the case, it's simply become a tradition in itself (see: A Christmas Story).
Read on to find out which Chinese foods are the most appealing to feast in on Christmas day.
1. Shanghai Cafe (100 Mott Street)
foodballin because sometimes all you want is some general tso's chicken • #shanghaicafe #foodballin w/ @vitade
Shanghai Cafe is in the apex of Chinese food; the center of the Chinese food universe. Of course, we're referring to Chinatown.
We'd suggest coming here. Why would we make that suggestion? Well, they've got very cheap prices, a huge, varied menu, and soup dumplings that will make you swoon.
If you want a ton of space to move around and attentive service, don't come to Shanghai Cafe. That's not why you come to Shanghai Cafe. It's harried, crowded, and the service is rushed at best.
You come here because, well, the food is incredible. They've got some of the best scallion pancakes in the whole city. They're tasty, and crisp, and they've got unbelievable dim sum. We're predicting the wait here on Christmas will be insane, so get here right at 11:30 a.m. when they open.
2. New Hon Wong (244 Canal Street)
jenn.bautista The staff knows to bring us tea and chili paste immediately. #regulars #newhonwong #jennykvbEats
New Hon Wong is one of our favorite spots in all of this crazy city. It's got chill prices and it's got delicious food which are just about two of our favorite things.
Specifically, we're very into the BBQ roast pork, and crispy roast pig with rice, which, we've got to mention, only cost $5.50 each.
They've also got some of the best congee and Chinese fried bread we've ever had, and some really tasty roast duck. At New Hon Wong you'll get some really great food, in really large portions, for a price you can stomach. What more could you want?
3. Café China (13 East 37th Street)
Do you go wild for spicy food? If so, you need to get your hands on some dumplings in chili sauce at Café China.
If not, we'd have to recommend the double cooked pork, the braised fish in white soup, the three pepper chicken, or the pork soup dumplings.
You can't go wrong with any of those options. They're all so delectable, you might just find yourself buying multiple portions so you can have some for later.
Café China does tend to get busy on Christmas day. You'll probably have to wait for five minutes or so for a table, but you'll know it was worth chilling out for a few minutes when you're sinking your teeth into the spicy fish filet.
4. Grand Sichuan (19 Saint Marks Place)
priyas_diary I have become obsessed with #soupdumplings ESP the crab & pork ones!! 😍😍 #chinesefood #grandsichuan #nyc #chelsea
We're mildly obsessed with the sweet and sour fish (song zi yu) from Grand Sichuan. They've also got some entirely authentic dan dan noodle, which comes slathered in heavy peanut sauce.
They've also got prices that won't tear your wallet apart for their wholly delicious, perfect-for-Christmas-day cuisine.
If you go here for Christmas lunch, they have a pretty stellar lunch deal. It costs $7 for a meal with rice and soup included. It's fresh, and you don't have to wait long for your food.
Oh, also, you absolutely have to try the crab meat and pork soup dumplings. Are they the best dumplings in the city? You'll have to figure that out for yourself, won't you?
,5. Nom Wah Tea Parlor (13 Doyers Street)
Everything here is on point. The sticky rice with Chinese sausage? On point. The soup dumplings? Entirely on point. The scallion pancakes? To die for.
Go ahead and try it for yourself; you'll see what we mean. Also, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention their roast pork bun. We've definitely grubbed hard on some pork buns from Nom Wah Tea Parlor in our day.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor is also right in the thick of Chinatown. If you come here, you'll have the supremely genuine eating-Chinese-food-on-Christmas experience.
If you're really going hard-- if you want a truly satisfied stomach and palette, get your hands on some of that eggplant with shrimp, the crab claw, or seafood rice. The seafood game at Nom Wah Tea Parlor is a slam dunk.
6. Joe's Shanghai (9 Pell Street)
theapartment_tokyo また皆でニューヨークのJoe's Shaghai行きたいです、買い付け最終日に全く寝てない状態で行ったらチンタオビール一杯でベロ酔いしてヤバかった思い出。 銀座の店舗も同じ味なら最高なんだけど #joesshanghai #nyc #ニューヨーク買い付け
Get here early if you're going on Christmas day. They open at 11 a.m., and we're expecting the mob to hit around 11:03.
The soup dumplings will haunt you; they're huge and filled with an abundance of juice. The onion pancakes? These are something truly special. They're crispy, yet moist and chewy, and fried to perfection.
It's a scene; it's chaos, but again, you don't come here for the relaxing atmosphere. You come here because it's some of the most flavorful, authentic Chinese food in NYC.
Also, it's cash only, so you've got to hit the ATM before you hit Joe's Shanghai for your Christmas day nourishment.
7. Jing Fong (20 Elizabeth Street)
At Jing Fong, they get a bit metaphorical with it. They have an escalator on which you ride to ascend to dim sum heaven. Seriously. This huge banquet hall is shrouded with huge crystal chandeliers and a rockstar dragon theme.
It's also filled with goodies: siu mai, shrimp crepes, and some of the best sticky rice buns in the whole universe.
Everything here is fresh, and the egg custard, pork bones, and shumai rice noodles are all way tasty. The restaurant is huge, so it's not a total mob on Christmas day-- but it will get crowded. You'll probably have to wait.
If Jing Fong is the restaurant to which you've pinned your Christmas day dreams of Chinese food heaven, make sure you get going early. They open at 10 a.m. You should try to get here at 11 a.m. or so to beat the lunch rush.
Check out 9 Best Holiday Foods You Simply Must Have Every December.