Yo! NYC

After Tai Hong Lao(sp?) closed down (health inspection, sigh, a constant barrier to amazing food) on Mott, I couldn’t think of any place to eat dim sum. I hated Jing Fong (terrible service, watery food, expensive); Go Go Dimsum (too polished, much too expensive for poor college student me); Delight 28 (found a rat underneath the table many years ago, I’m still scarred. Although, the waiter from Tai Hong Lao works here and still remembers me =). Thus, I resorted to Mandarin Court (the lady at the counter has always been kind to me even when I was a young girl): it was relatively cheaper than the rest of the restaurants, and they were quick with your orders. The service was never great, and I still have a personal dislike towards one of the waiters.

Thus, when Kawai mentioned 9 Chatham Square, I had to check it out:

Tasty Dumpling
54 Mulberry Street

Perfectly crispy bottom, well cooked pork inside, steaming hot, and amazingly cheap 5 for $1.25(they recently raised their prices) fried dumplings aka potstickers at Tasty Dumpling. Their name says it all, they have a small menu of items from noodles, tofu salads, scallion pancakes all OK, but the star is the DUMPLINGS! Don’t expect service, seating are limited about 10 people max, but hey what do expect its Chinatown. Make sure you properly season your dumplings with the provided dumpling sauce and sriracha hot sauce on the table, to gives it that extra little kick. If the weather permits, take it to go and enjoy people watching at the park right across.

Above: Pork and chive dumpling, so fresh it melted the styrofoam package.

(screen shot from the Andy Milonakis Show)

Yummy Noodles
48 Bowery, New York 10013
Btwn Bayard & Canal St
212-374-1327

Yummy Noodles are well known for their clay pot casseroles, roast ducks, and other Hong Kong style favorites on their menu. Cheap is the key, an average dish is around 4-6 dollars, but the menu might be a bit overwhelming for some. There are over a 100 items fit on to a single 8 1/2 x 11 size menu. My latest visit to that Yummy Noodles the service was really lacking.

Yummy’s logo and Rolex logo

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144 2nd Ave (@ 9th Street)
New York, NY 10003-8305
Phone: (212) 228-9682
veselka.com
Open 24 hours
I had my eyes on this place a long time ago but never stood for the perpetually jammed wait. Luckily today it wasn’t too packed; I was seated right when I got in. Veselka is a Ukrainian cuisine coffee house that serves a wide variety of dishes. Known for their famous handmade pierogis, the menu consist of meat (especially pork), potatoes, fruit, mushrooms, berries, and herbs play a major part in many dishes.

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18A Doyers Street, NYC

There are loads of barber shops along the old Doyer Street. One of the cheapest place to get a haircut in Chinatown is here at, New Hong Kongg Barber Shop (extra g for gangsta). Seriously this place is dirt cheap, regular hair cut goes for $6 add $2 more bucks for a wash with it. Drop a buck or two for tips and you’re set. No appointments needed, get in and out in about 20 minutes.

Even with the inflation of the US dollar, this place keeps their prices pretty low. Talk about cutthroat competition and price wars!