Aside from cheap Chinese bakeries ($0.75 for a sponge cake and $0.80 small cup of milk tea) and dumpling places like Vanessa's Dumpling, Prosperity Dumpling and
Fried Dumpling place on Mosco (frieddumplingnyc.com), i recently discovered few more hideouts. Welcome to Chinatown!
1.
242 CANAL CAFE BAKERY (242 CANAL NEAR CENTER ST.) Bakery and Cooked food. The $3.25 rice box includes rice and two other items.
2.
DELUX FOOD MARKET 79 ELIZABETH AND 122 MOTT ST. Super place, has it all: vegetables, sushi, chicken, meat, buns, cooked food (the $3.25 rice box combination), bakery, dining area, restroom, etc etc. provides very authentic experience. I usually choose rice with tofu and string beans or sesame chicken and some greens, then any 2 buns or egg tarts for $1, vegetable sushi for $2.50, eel sushi for $3.75, lo mei gai and $1 steamed bun with pork for my bf. Last time i got stuffed bitter melon but did not like it much. The first time i passed by there were some tourists taking pictures in front of the stands with durians, so, I guess, the place must be mentioned in some tourist guides.
3. LUNCH BOX -
195 CENTER STREET AND
243 GRAND STREET 5 combinations for $4.25 to go and $4.75 to stay plus soup. I usually get a to-go box at Center St, but love to hang out at the one on Grand Street - it reminds me of a some forgotten place at a train station in China. And also - of In The Mood for Love small diners where the main heroine used to buy wonton soup or congee.
Links:
http://www.businessinsider.com/chinatown-mott-street-markets?op=1
http://www.bionicbites.com/2010/04/cheapo-lunch-at-lunch-box-buffet/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/canal-bakery-new-york
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lunch-box-buffet-new-york-3
I will do next post on Chinatown Tea Places.
