Chinatown's Delicious Surprises
Brother and sister duo Heather and Christopher Tierney know all about how to lure Manhattanites to Chinatown after dark. Their apothecary-themed cocktail bar Apothéke (9 Doyers Street #1, 212.406.0400) opened on tiny Doyers Street in 2008 to much acclaim, and their new night spot next door, Pulqueria (11 Doyers Street, 212.227.3099), has drawn similar high praise, along with a highly hip clientele.
Doyers Street, historically known as the “Bloody Angle,” is a one-block dogleg that might qualify as the most cinematic spot in New York City—the kind of place where it makes perfect sense to descend a flight of stairs below an old sign that reads “Doyers Vietnamese Restaurant” and find a chic restaurant full of beautiful people sipping frothy pink Mexican drinks made of fermented agave sap (pulque, the ancient drink of the Aztec lightning gods. The Tierneys are the first to bring pulque to NYC; it’s been enjoying a recent renaissance in Mexico City).
In fact, Chinatown is full of delicious surprises like that—if you know where to look. The Tierneys share their favorites:
Winnie’s: A legendary Chinatown karaoke dive where hipsters and locals come together to croon to a packed room into the wee hours of the morning. 104 Bayard Street, 212.732.2384
Great NY Noodletown: This Hong Kong-style eatery is the go-to spot for exceptional late-night dining, and a favorite of many famous chefs. Try the salt-and-pepper shrimp, crispy pan-fried noodles, and roast duck perfumed with five-spice powder. 28 Bowery, 212.349.0923
Golden Manna Bakery: Go here for the exceptionally strong, never-bitter Chinese coffee. 16 Bowery, 212.274.8816
Sanur: Indonesian and Malaysian food. It also serves the best pad Thai in the city. 18 Doyers Street, 212.267.0088
Les Enfants Terribles: A bohemian hangout with a French-African-inspired menu, in an out-of-the-way spot several blocks east of the Manhattan Bridge on-ramp. 37 Canal Street, 212.777.7518
Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles: They make their noodles fresh every day. 1 Doyers Street #1, 212.791.1817
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