In the Mood for Food 2.0
We’re back with an autumn edition of In The Mood for Food Chinatown block walk! In The Mood for Food takes you along the foodie’s footpath from the eyes of a resident. We’re re-imagining the lively experience of eating our way through a night market, the socially-distanced way. Through small bites from local businesses, and stops to witness the spirit that makes Chinatown extraordinary, this block walk is a way for your crew to taste the town, while supporting small businesses and bringing the spirit and unique energy back to Chinatown.
Chinatown needs our love more than ever. We’re here to say, Chinatown will always be open for business. Thank you for supporting Chinatown, we hope you enjoy your day around this historic, vibrant and delicious neighborhood. Stay safe, chi fan ba! 吃饭吧.
This initiative couldn’t happen without our amazing volunteer team!
Volunteer Project Lead: Jackie Wang
In the Mood for Food Poster Art (left): Sonya Han
Map and Branding: Anna Chau
Photography: Kevin Xiao
Path A
Jing Fong
20 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013
www.jingfong.com | Instagram: @jingfongny
Jing Fong was founded in 1978 as a dim sum restaurant with just 150 seats. Today, it occupies over 20,000 square feet, with a capacity for 800 seats. Upon entering and ascending the grand escalators, you will find a bustling atmosphere embodying all the essential elements of “yum cha” ̶ a traditional dim sum brunch ̶ with hand wrapped dumplings, buns, rice, noodles, and many more strolling down the aisles in different dim sum carts. After brunch service, the space is often transformed into a unique banquet hall for various occasions, including weddings, birthdays, charity events, as well as corporate and holiday parties.
In the Mood for Food Item: honey walnut prawns or braised tofu with mushroom over a bed of rice (vegan)
Soft Swerve
85B Allen St, New York, NY 10002
www.softswervenyc.com | Instagram: @softswervenyc
Jason Liu and Michael Tsang, best friends and co-founders, met and grew up in Chinatown where they worked and went to school together. In 2016, they were inspired by visits to some of their favorite dessert eateries and wondered why they couldn't find them locally. With this thought in mind, Jason and Michael took the idea and began experimenting in the kitchen so that they can one day make some of their favorite desserts more available to the Chinatown/Lower East Side community. They found excitement in creating ice cream which motivated a turn of direction in their careers; Soft Swerve was founded.
In the Mood for Food Item: Ube (purple yam) ice cream, black sesame, matcha or frozen hot chocolate in a cup or a regular cake cone
Tonii’s Fresh Rice Noodle
83 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
Instagram: @tonii83
Tonii’s Fresh Rice Noodle is a mom and pop shop associated with New Kam Hing. They specialize in sponge cakes — an eggy, fluffy and moist angel cake — and rice rolls — a freshly steamed rice crepe that can be filled with an assortment of toppings, like pork, shrimp, beef or vegetables.
In the Mood for Food Item: Sponge cake and rice roll
Taiwan Bear House
11 Pell St, New York, NY 10013
www.taiwanbearhouseny.com | Instagram: @taiwanbearhouse
Taiwan Bear House opened in June 2015 and is located in the heart of Chinatown. They served authentic Taiwanese bento boxes and street snacks.
In the Mood for Food Item: fried chicken leg snack or braised tofu skin and daikon (vegetarian)
Wing on Wo & Co.
26 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
https://www.wingonwoand.co/ | Instagram: @wingonwoandco
Wing On Wo & Co. is the oldest store in Chinatown, New York, bringing you the best quality porcelain ware since 1925.
In the Mood for Food Item: Surprise gift
Fong On
81 Division St, New York, NY 10002
Instagram: @fongon1933
Fong On is the oldest family run tofu shop in New York City.
In the Mood for Food Item: Choice of Soy Drink or Herbal Tea
Path B
My Food House
6 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
Instagram: @myfoodh
Home style, hearty Taiwanese restaurant
In the Mood for Food Item: Taiwanese braised pork rice with veggies and fried egg
Public Village
23 Essex St N, New York, NY 10002
Sichuanese restaurant is run by Kiyomi Wang and Karen Song. We serve Sichuanese snacks and specialized in noodles. Our motto is to eat, drink and gossips like Sichuanese.
In the Mood for Food Item: Sichuanese crispy lotus roots
Super Taste
26 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
No-frills Chinese eatery known for dumplings and hand-pulled noodles served with a range of meat, fish & broth.
In the Mood for Food Item: pork and chive dumplings
Thailicious
71 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002
https://www.thailiciousny.com | Instagram: @thailiciousnyc
Thailicious is moved from Chinatown to new location at LES ( 71 Clinton Street) in order to serve you a better atmosphere, more seating and full bar option. However, Thailicious aim to serve fresh homestyle thai food with fresh ingredient from local partner. Our best seller are Baby Back Rib, E-San Combo, Spicy Mango, Tom Kha Coconut Soup. We Cant wait for you to come to our LES neighborhood and enjoy these wonderful dishes with us.
In the Mood for Food Item: crab rangoon
The Little One
150 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Instagram: @thelittleonenyc
The Little One opened its doors in 2017 bringing Japanese inspired desserts to New York Citys Chinatown. A less is more mindset drives the menu where it focuses on ingredients. Everything is made in house from the ice creams to each composed dessert. They draw inspiration from the simplicity and ingredient focused lifestyle of the Japanese food culture.
In the Mood for Food Item: hojicha tiramisu
Yifang
67 Bayard Street, New York, NY 10013
Instagram: @yifangteanyc
Fresh bubble tea shop
In the Mood for Food Item: wintermelon lemonade
LIVIN
LIVIN is a team of plant nerds who grew up in a world with rigid ideas on who to be, how to live and how to be successful. Only to find out that these structures were never meant to serve people like us: queer, women, BIPOC.We know a better way of life is possible.It just takes a wild imagination.So that’s what we’re here to do — to reimagine ourcity to better serve communities — one plant at a time.LIVIN. Rewilding the concrete jungle.
In the Mood for Food Item: minitropical plant that is perfect for a NY-sized apartment
Sponsored by Sounds of Chinatown
Sounds of Chinatown is a collaborative, community-focused project that aims to record the unique sounds of New York City’s Manhattan Chinatown and encourage people to think about this historic neighborhood through its soundscape. Our goal is to draw attention to how sound and noise influence individuals and communities. This work builds on previous community-based strategies to mitigate the impact of long-term construction of a mega-jail in Chinatown on the health of neighborhood residents.
To learn more about their work, watch Construction and Older Adults produced by Sounds of Chinatown and Hamilton Madison House.
We’re thrilled to incorporate Sounds of Chinatown’s sound walk into our self-guided food tour! What is a sound walk, you ask? A “sound walk” is an immersive listening experience, focused on noticing the specific sounds in an environment. Pleasant or disagreeable, soft or loud, continuous or fragmented. What sounds do you hear? How do they make you feel? What do these sounds tell you about the place? The following four stops are incorporated into our self-guided tour:
Canal Arcade: Hear the sizzle of cooks preparing dishes out the back door of the New Malaysia restaurant, or the doorbell chime as diners prepare to enter a hidden Japanese sushi bar, Nakaji, as you stroll through this pedestrian alley linking Bowery to Elizabeth Street.
Mahayana Temple Buddhist Association: This colorful landmark on Canal Street is home to a massive 16-foot Buddha statue - the city’s tallest! Let a sense of calm wash over you as the lilting murmur of Buddhist chants greet you upon stepping through the large golden doors, away from the raucous sounds of Manhattan Bridge traffic.
Forsyth Produce Market: This amazing spot located underneath the Manhattan Bridge is a popular and plentiful row of fruit and vegetable vendors selling fresh and highly affordable produce. A variety of languages can be heard around here as customers haggle and exchange news with vendors, many of whom are not Chinese.
New York Mart: Located just under the Manhattan Bridge, this supermarket is a mainstay for Chinese groceries. The screeching rumble of the B/D/N/Q train lines overhead is loud and inescapable. Stroll through the abundant aisles and you may hear customers ordering fresh cuts of meat and fishmongers filleting fresh seafood.
Collaborating with Hester Street Fair
The Hester brand is known for its highly curated selection of NYC's artisanal fashion, art, design, jewelry, crafts, music, and food vendors. As a space that connects and collects the highest-quality cutting edge entrepreneurs and under-the-radar brands, Hester creates buzzworthy artisanal experiences that are unique to the Lower East Side. Our vendor selections represent the unmatched diversity, unique talent, and abundant creative spirit that sets NYC apart. Described by the New York Times as a “hyperlocal block party,” The Hester brand brings a connection to community and a vibe that is cool, cozy, and familiar. Family-friendly and open to all yet refined enough to appeal to the city’s most discerning foodies, music aficionados, and vintage fashionistas, Hester is a meeting ground for all those attuned to the city’s sharpest trends, facilitating a close-knit community of in-the-know New Yorkers.