Identifies as women-owned
Yes
Caf China in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
From the business
Service options
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great tea selection
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Catering
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Lunch reservations recommended
Yes
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Usually a wait
Yes
Payments
NFC mobile payments
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 212-213-2810
Site: http://www.cafechinanyc.com/
Site: http://www.cafechinanyc.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:12–3PM
- Tuesday:12–3PM
- Wednesday:12–3PM
- Thursday:12–3PM
- Friday:12–3PM
- Saturday:12–11PM
- Sunday:12–10:30PM
Comments (199)
Dan Dan Noodles - 7/10These noodles had great flavor and a nice chewy texture but it wasn’t spicyy. I’m glad they have non spicy options for those who can’t handle the heat, but I think the spice was really needed to pull the dish together.Spicy Fish Fillet Box - 9/10I wasn’t super hungry when I ate here and the food was still delicious! The coating was flaky and crispy while the fish was soft. It definitely gave me the kick I was craving and they did not skimp out on the portion. The chinese cucumber were okay, and the dumpling I could have done without.
Amazing Sichuan food at a reasonable price. Portions are a good size for sharing. Pork dumplings in chili oil were amazing. Sautéed string beans, spicy fish fillet, twice cooked pork, duck fried rice were all fantastic! Mapo tofu and spicy cumin lamb were good. There is plenty of seating (2 levels, 3rd level is for events) in this new location. Booths are comfortable and spaced apart from one another
On Lunar New Year Eve, I wanted to book Lunar New Year dinner for a party of 7, but nothing was showing as available online and couldnt reach anyone over the phone... Decided to go in person the day right when they opened for lunch of to try my luck...special kudos to the hostess (unfortunately didnt catch her name) who not only managed to carve out a spot for us within the time range that worked for us, but put us in a beautiful private dining room on the second floor which was totally unexpected! Had a space to even hang up coats and store bags.Additional special kudos to our server Alex who was super helpful and proactive - we had a couple folks who accidentally dropped their chopsticks on the floor, and before we even had a chance to ask Alex for replacements, he already came by with new ones!Apart from the great service, you probably care more about the food...we literally ordered almost half the entire menu. Everything was great! I particularly liked the Spicy Soft Shell Crabs and the Curiously Tasty Chicken, but everything was great, and everyone liked everything.They have their liquor license now too! Great times all around! Highly recommended, even if youre not in the area. Cheers
First time dinning here after they relocated. Overall delicious, while some dishes are a little salty. Though a little disappointed not seeing many original dishes from China Blue…
Some of the best Chinese food weve had in Manhattan! Incredible 30s ambience, a Wang Kar Wai inspired drink menu, and delicious food. The staff were beyond friendly and attentive.
We have no expectations and came in to test the waters. We went in and ordered from gut feelings. It is probably the first time I can tell the cold dishes were made from their heart and soul instead of “a cold dish is just an unworthy expensive add-on” in a Chinese restaurant. (We ordered the pickled daikon and the smoked dry tofu, for reference.)The pig’s feet were falling off the bones with a fresh peppercorn aroma without the numbness, something incredibly hard to achieve. 咸烧白（braised pork Szechuan Style) is perhaps the most effective peace agreement between the vegetarians and the carnivores. (I am sorry, it is still not a dish to share with your vegetarian friends- maybe chef can try to figure one out?) The soft tofu- I can taste the sweetness of soy. Last time I did that I was in Shawan, Guangdong; my husband’s last good tofu memory was from Chengdu. I can finally say: you may be able to know what a Chinese soft tofu should taste like in US in 2022.I didn’t rate service because they are trying to find their places right now, which is difficult for all restaurant owners in the world at this moment. I do need to point out: the water jug is a bit prone to breakage due to its hourglass shape. However it is “chic,” please let the waitstaff serve us with ease and consider a ergonomic-friendly alternative.
Really bad food. We ordered smoked tofu which was bland, cold, dry, tough and tasted like stale food. Simply horrible. Then we ordered scallion pancakes which honestly did not at all taste like scallion pancakes. They were just oily crispy pastry pieces that did not have any taste or inclusion of scallion, worst scallion pancakes I’ve had, if I dare call them that. Lastly we got 3 pepper chicken - this was most decent of all the stuff we got but absolutely not great. But this one was a little edible at least let’s say. We had to order rice since it did not come with their extremely dry and tasteless food. Even the sticky rice was not flavorful and was not the right texture. 0 stars, please don’t waste your money here.
Everything is very good!The tea I ordered was super flavorful, and as you can see in the pic, it’s real deal!!!I love the flavor and the heat. However it’s not spicy enough for me and my friend 😂😂 even though it’s shows 4 🌶 on the menu, feels like 1.5 for me, not a big deal I just with it could be more spicy.Other than that this place is great! Server very kind too!
Anxious awaited to come visit. Maybe it was an off day or close to end of shift. But the pork soup dumplings were lack luster. Everything was amazing - Duck fried rice, dumplings jn chili oil, and Dan Dan noodles (best value on the menu).
Only picked up from this place once but my meal was delicious. My second favorite ma po tofu I’ve ever had and I order it a lot. Staff was kind and service was quick. I also loved their thoughtful utensil packet. Chopsticks were even above average!
This award winner (1 Michelin Star) is a great restaurant specializing in Shanghai cuisine. The food is just SPECTACULAR, Ive been there many times and never had a bad meal. Theyre specialty is the tea smoked duck and it. Is fantastic. I usually dont use these words to describe restaurants, Im making an exception in this case. What are you waiting for, get down there already.
What a hidden gem near Time Square! Cannot believe Ive never come across this restaurant. The restaurant is spacious and service is very attentive. Only complain I have is that table spacing can be a bit tight considering how big the restaurant is. Dan Dan noodles is very good and also recommend Pork dumpling with chili oil.
Great for a group as you can share a lot of things, but also great for 2 or 3 people. Ambiance and service were excellent. Extensive menu with something for everyone, including fantastic vegetarian options. We ordered a lot and they spaced it out deliberately and it was perfect. One of the best and most fun meals weve had out in a long time.
I miss the old Cafe China significantly more, unfortunately. While the bamboo shoots here were good, and the soft shell crab was soft, there was a missing spice kick to the food that the original venue had.There is plenty of seating as it is now a 3 level restaurant. They sold out of Chinese liquor, which was unfortunate, so we had to make due with just beer.Overall, staff were super friendly, plenty of seating, but the food spice kick was lacking.
A great Chinese food spot. We love all of our dishes!
Still my favorite Chinese restaurant in NYC 💕 BUT the service isn’t as good as it used to be… fingers crossed they’ll sort it out - I want my noodles and mapo tofu!
Beautiful decor, warm and peaceful ambiance, sensational Sichuan dishes. Would recommend the spicy fish. If youre looking for quality Chinese dishes made the right way, I cannot recommend this restaurant strongly enough.
Cafe China has a new location ( see pictures ). It will be open in a couple of months..Ask Ming for a consistent great lobster.I have to change my review about Cafe China (see below). Today, I was in Cafe China and what a difference: the attention of the service, the perfection of the execution, cheff Chen in the kitchen prepared one of the best lobsters I ever had. The place is relaxing and welcoming. Do not miss the opportunity....Difficult to get a reservation over the phone or if you are one person. I remember when there was plenty of space. I guess what Michelin can do for you. I do not completely understand what the fuss is about, I like the consistency of Shun Lee Palace. I mostly take out in Cafe Chi
The food here is good ! We ordered shrimp dumplings and rice wine chicken as starters .The shrimp dumplings were great but the rice wine chicken was a cold dish and didn’t taste good .The waiter should have let us know on this while we were ordering . We ordered fried rice ,3 pepper chicken and eggplant in garlic sauce .Everything tasted really delicious .
The delivery is not the same as experience this very nice place but during the pandemic this is what we got!!!Always great quality and these are some of my favorite dishes!!!Dan Dan Noodles, Pork Dumplings and sweet and sour Baby Ribs!!!I used the go there for lunch and their lunch specials are great too.I hope to get back to normal soon and bring my friends to discover this special place!!!
Wonderful restaurant, lovely staff. Rarely write reviews but this felt necessary. Soup Dumplings and Tea Duck were the highlights. The drink 2046 as well. Will definitely be returning soon.
First time I ate here was after the Michelin star. I loved every dish, authentic flavors and textures. It’s difficult to get that sometimes but don’t hesitate to try the food here. It’s a go-to every time I’m back home.
Good food, nice atmosphere and friendly stuff. I wish there is more food options. Dumplings and fried rice were really good. I found the chicken little too salty.
The new location is much better than the previous one. Food is arguably better than it used to be, and prices are still good. I liked how before it was a no-tipping restaurant, which is no longer the case. But great restaurant nonetheless.
A taste of Sichuan in the neighborhood. We had a family styled meal with a few iconic Sichuan dishes. We skipped on the mapo tofu though it’s also very much a Sichuan staple, because our friend who’s been here before said that it was OK. Amongst the food we tried, the Double Cooked Pork was definitely my favourite. Pair it with some rice or fried rice and you got yourself a good hearty meal. The rest of the dishes were good though not amazing. If you can make a trip to Flushing or their sibling restaurants “China Blue” or “Birds of a Feather”, I’d probably skip out on this particular location.The interior decor and the ambiance is wonderful though, and the service was good and prompt. It felt very homely and definitely had an older Chinese charm.
Great food and used to be my go-to delivery place. However, today I had a firstterrible experience with them. After waiting for two hours for my order, I called the restaurant (I had received a message about 30 minutes before calling saying that the order was on its way.) I was informed the kitchen was working on my order and I should get it soon. A few minutes later I received a call from the restaurant saying they would not be able to fulfill my order—terrible customer service. I will not order from there again.
Posting review mad late. But my diservice is to not highlight Cafe China. Booked reservations and seated immediately. I mean front and center of the restaurant when you 1st walk in to the establishment. Uncertain of the service at first, but it was a packed house. A1 on being efficient and timely on everything.The food was amazing. Fresh. Sooooo good. I heard the duck was spot on and while fried rice seems easy, they made it with perfection.Nice location and solid for a dinner date. Im certain I could practice using chopsticks 🥢 more often, but I finished about 25% of my rice. The edamame and the wonton thingys (forgot the technical name for this appetizer) had me super full. Including a shared bottle of champagne.Anywho, put this one on your list, if ever in NY. Really made me want to go back and visit China. The cuisine is as authentic, as you are going to get it.Thanks for the gum too. Cool touch to the ✅ ending.
Delicious Chinese food ! They have separated outdoor tables in addition to indoor seating. We ordered the pickled whole fish with green beans. Food was tasty and service was great.
Good sichuan food, amazing mug bean jelly but the chongqing chicken was a bit salty
We had a company diner (kind of) and went to this place. They gave us a private room upstairs which was incredible. The food was phenomenal and the waiters were very knowledgeable. All drinks were delicious too.
The dishes were tasty, though a bit on the oily side. Depends on what you ordered, some dishes are authentic Szechuan dishes some are not really.Services were good and prices were reasonable.
Not sure about the authority of Michelin but did give it a try. Nice little restaurant, attentive staff, yummy food, a little overpriced for that petite quantity, though. Way too packed and in the case of fire no one could get out! But given the delicious food it could be tolerated. Was here three times during my four days sojourn in Manhattan.
Oh my god. Such a good day in NYC. Unexpected but much needed. Great food. Got some spicy cucumbers, vege pot wtickers, fish that was in some sweet and sour sauce, eggplants and string beans. And the shrimps and in the shrimp fried rice were plump and crisp indeed. Great serviced. Really liked our serveur. He really improved the experiene (I usually expect them to hinder, oh well maybe I have some issues). But here! He really made me want to come back for th experience. Dim lights and authentically sufficiently foreign to make an interesting date night. Top five places I like in nyc.
Smoked duck was dry, not enough buns for the meat. Eel was Ok. Way too much chili pepper all over everything .It was hard to actually taste the food itself, fish, beef, pork. Food very disappointing. Not Authentic , subtle, diverse, Chinese food. Would not return.Very loud , seating cramped if you are 2. $12 pu er tea is crazy too. Its not a cocktail.
Excellent food at this place. We got a few small things and everything was delicious. It was seasoned well and you could tell there wasnt any fake stuff in it because my three pepper chicken was perfectly hot, and my mouth didnt continue to burn all day.
Authentic Chinese food with a Michelin star. The dishes are smaller so you can order a few to try. They used to be incredibly difficult to get in pre-pandemic but now its much easier to get a table.
Rice and noodles were good but the chicken wasnt good. Not ma enough and had too much batter. Also was not a good type of crispy. It tasted like it was fried once and reheated.
This place is busy !! Reserve ahead before getting here. You won’t be disappointed. I loved spicy chicken and dumplings here. Their mapo tofu is good too. My friend ordered duck tongue and it was relished well. They have a good selection of cocktails too which I would definitely recommend. The staff and servers were pleasant and hospitable. This place will see more of me soon.
Good place to eat, for being in Midtown good prices! Really good attention from the overall staff, and the dishes were pretty good! Id definitely would return!
This restaurant is worth a visit if you are nearby and want some decent Sichuan food. My favorites were the spicy cumin lamb and the mouth watering chicken. The lamb was cooked very well and chicken was very tenderThey were spicy but not too spicy to ruin the experience for me. The decore inside was also very interesting. It made me feel like I was in old China around 60s
A unique restaurant with very authentic Chinese food. The names on the menu were very creative. Great place for people that enjoy spicy food. A lot of different options to choose from. Place is kind of small though, definitely have a reservation if you go with a group. Recommend the spicy soft shell crab.
A great authentic Chinese Sichuan restaurant in the heart of midtown Manhattan. We came here because we were intrigued by the Michelin rating. The foods validated the reputation. Prices and services both great too.
They don’t take reservations for parties under 8 people. The three of us arrived at 6:30pm on a Saturday night, put down a name and mobile number, and hung out at a nearby Irish pub until they called us; it was fine.Prices are great. The three of us ordered the classics and it came out to under $60 per person. You have to get the tiger salad and mapo tofu. Love that they have a no tip policy; just like in China. I will be coming here often.
The service was excellent: very efficient, no overly friendly waiters that make you feel obliged to converse, food comes out super fast - everything you look for in a midtown restaurant. There was no bad dish. Had to order their famous cold noodles. We liked the sauce, BUT there were a few strands of noodles (not the entire noodle strand but part of it) that were DRY - like, they’ve been sitting out for long, and there are parts of the noodles that weren’t coated in sauce which then dried out. Really?! Is it a dish that is not good there, so people don’t order it often? Or just a bad day? In any case, I bet the Michelin judges were served better ones haha, unless they really like the texture of dried out noodles ;)
Great great great place! Best Chinese I’ve ever had! Went there with a person that doesn’t eat chinese food, and she finished the dish :) highly recommend if you ever pass by NY. Staff was helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. And Michelin star is well deserved!
We went here when in the neighborhood. We went at lunch time without reservations. We waited a few minutes but were quickly seated at a table for two. The restaurant is long and narrow. There is a dining room with more space than where we were seated. Our table was a typical two-topper for NYC. I sat on the bench and my table mate sat in the chair opposite.Because the restaurant offers lunch specials we had that. Service was quick and efficient . They offer specialty cocktails. I had the 2046. It was delicious.I had double cooked pork and my table mate had a beef rib dish. Both came to the table promptly. They offer both white and brown rice. Lunch comes with an appetizer.We were so pleased with all the food. The tables are close together but like so many places in NY our neighboring tables were polite.We were seated up front so got in on the bustle of the front-of-house with guests coming and going and to-go orders being shuffled around. It was fine with us.
The staff went out of their way to help us here. Initially, there was only seats at the bar available but as soon as a table became available, they helped us to relocate. The Asian menu is fairly priced but we weren’t wow-ed by the dumplings. They were okay but maybe good for a New York standard. Try and get a reservation because there’s always a queue over lunch.
Wonderful Chinese food here. Being a Chinese myself, I can tell you that non of their dish is Americanized. If you go there, please try their fish. It’s so delicious and it reminds me of local Chinese restaurant a lot. Their service is also incredible. I had one dish that’s not warm and they just made a entire new one for me. I didn’t even ask them to do that. I would say if you only go to one Chinese restaurant while visiting NY, you can come here and you won’t regret it.
The name of the restaurant means overwhelmingly beautiful in Chinese, but Cafe China is easy to be understood.The taste is ok. It is Szechuan restaurant and its really spicy. Considering it is in midtown Manhattan, the price is acceptable.Overall, its a good restaurant.
It must be no coincidence that this place has been awarded Michelin one star ever since 2013. The interior design evoked the memory of the gilded age in Shanghai and the songs made one homesick. The service was really fast - all of our dishes was served at once shortly after we ordered (but I guess its the way to enable more ppl to enjoy the food at this small restaurant and I appreciate that).We tried the white style Chungking braised fish stew and the tea smoked duck - both were really good. The fish stew must be an innovation - its not what one would expect of traditional Szechuan cuisine but we loved the mild and well-balanced taste, and the duck was extraordinarily tender - you cannot miss it. My only tiny complaint would be that the portion of the food was a bit too generous so that its hard to try more varieties - and I believe that everything on the menu worths a try!
Tried the chungking chicken, soft shell crabs, garlic eggplant, and jellyfish. The chicken and crab were really good, but Ive had better garlic eggplant elsewhere. Did not really like the jellyfish though. There is a nice atmosphere but theres a decent wait. Good to try out once.
Great quality Szechuan food. Nice atmosphere and clearly a popular place (waited about 10 minutes for a table for two at 7.45pm on a Sunday). Lots to choose from on the menu so will come back to try more dishes. The tea duck seemed pretty popular. The Szechuan eggplant was really good. Prices are reasonable as well. Would recommend for a date night or for dinner with a group of friends. Also they have a separate lunch menu.
I loved their small booklet kinda menu. The ambience and the food everything seemed authentic! Worth the 30 minute wait and also deserves the Michelin star it has earned over the last few years.
Wonderful flavors and great portion size! I liked that the food was just spicy enough to enhance the aroma and the taste. If you go on a week day you should be able to get a table pretty fast.
We went as a group of 7 vegetarians and were pleasantly surprised at the flexibility on the menu as well as the taste! Portions are reasonably sized and the staff recommendations were good. We ordered dan dan noodles without the pork, pan fried vege dumplings , steamed veggie dumplings and the scallion pancakes ( which were delicious )For the mains we had mapo tofu, noodles and the mixed rice. We were served amazing desert of the coconut sorbet and tiramisu to round off the meal.Food tasted very good and the service was great. All in all a great lunch !Edited to addWe visited on today and the food was still as good. Only the veggie dumplings ( pan fried ) were very oily. The scallion pancakes and the Dan Dan noodles minus the pork were tastyOne in our party had sautéed fish filet and he said it was good
The lunch specials are very worth it for the price, and its clear to see as thats one of their busiest times of the day (customers dining in, taking out, ordering online, so many lunch specials). Really enjoyed the mapo tofu and the lamb, as both were spicy and had great flavor to it. One thing about the lamb would be to remove some of the hot peppers out, theyre not that edible and a whole bunch of them slightly ruins the taste.I sat at the bar, and the service was great! I got to see the server handle a lot of incoming orders, pour drinks, take bills and other logistical stuff while taking care of the customers at the bar. She was attentive, polite, friendly and made this busy place feel homey!
Everything Ive had here has been absolutely delicious, and I make it a point to come here every time Im in NYC. Its extremely reasonably priced for a 1 Michelin star restaurant. Definitely try the steamed tilapia and four-spice chicken (gungchung chicken?). The mochi and green tea ice cream dessert are also amazing. Unlike most other places with ice cream mochi, theirs comes out soft and ready to eat.My only criticism is that the service isnt that good, and they still expect a 15%+ tip. If you dont give one, they chase you to the door saying that they expect it. Honestly guys - thats a bit ridiculous.Theres usually a wait so I recommend going early and putting your name down. The wait is usually 1-2.5 hours.
A friend and I got here without reservation at nearly 8pm, and we waited about forty five minutes to get the seat. We ordered Dan Dan noodle, spicy cumin lamb, King Pao chicken, spicy chengdu wonton, and lightly sauteed bok choy.Dan dan noodle it was plain and nothing special. Instead of ordered Dan Dan noodle, I’ll recommend ordered Spicy Chengdu Wonton, which has the perfect sauce to come with the wonton!The lamb and the chicken dishes are also delicious as well.Will come back again for trying other dishes!
We ordered the cold dishes of the jelly fish and stripes in szechuan sauce, the tea duck, wontons in spice sauce, Kung Pao chicken, and snow peas leaves garlic, 2 rice and a hot tea. The biggest disappointment was the duck, it was dry and did not taste good. The decent dishes were the chicken, snow peas leaves and the very mild jelly fish. I think the 1 Michelin star built-up may have contributed to a tag bit higher expectation.
Oh Lord I loved my soup !!!was really nice thew have some headers and the option to eat outside. It made my day because I was soooo cold that I enjoyed so much the opportunity to eat a hot soup 🍜 inside a warm place. The waiter and service was also outstanding!!
Cabbage was good, though it is pretty expensive
This is a Michelin Star Restaurant, so we decided to give it a try to see what the buzz is all about.- 2 hour wait on a Friday evening- no reservations- awesommmmeeee fooooddddDefinitely coming back.P.S.I know youre all gonna be stoked in trying whole different kinds of stuff (especially after you see their portions.. its on the smaller spectrum..) but be sure to order some bland food to balance the spiciness.
Does it taste like food in China? No. But it wouldnt earn a Michelin star if it did. Although not as whitewashed as, say PF Changs, its still very westernized and adapted for a more Western palate. The food is certainly very fresh, especially for a Chinese restaurant, and the price is amazing for the quality of food especially considering they dont accept tip. Portion sizes are more in line with what you would expect at a Michelin star restaurant than a Chinese one, but 2 dishes between 2 people is still more than enough. Overall, one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Manhattan, and Id gladly trade authenticity for their freshness and quality of food any day.
When you get tired of NYC pizza, this place is a short walk from Times Square... about 12 mins. It’s a hidden gem nestled on 37th street. Their won ton soup is homemade and delicious. The fried rice has so many amazing flavors that you don’t need to add anything to it. We highly recommend this quaint place to satisfy your Chinese tastebuds.They do takeout and delivery to area hotels. Fried rice has mustard greens.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the City. Good nostalgia 30s ambiance. Fresh and authentic Szechuan food. The spiciness is toned down over the years but still pretty good. The mouthing watering chicken is the best in town.
I was really thrilled to come and try out this place ever since I knew that it’s a Michelin starred restaurant and the fact that it has so many yelp reviews. So let me keep it short-Ambience-4/5Servers-5/5Kung Pao chicken-5/5 ( very flavorful than any other kung pao I have ever had)Chongqing chicken-3/5( it was spicy and fried..great!! But very less chicken pierced as compared to the red chillies.. also, the peppercorn presence wasn’t to my liking)Some eggplant dish with Soy- was brilliant 5/5Pot sticker dumplings-4/5Prices-reasonable given that it has a Michelin Star.For all of the above food, we paid like 60 bucks.All in all, I do recommend this place to people who are fond of Chinese food ( the Americanized version).
The food was nicely spicy but was also a little greasy. The tree tea mushroom dish tasted good but the mushroom stems were tough to chew. The dumplings and scallion pancakes were delicious though. We took to orders of pancakes home with us.
Decent food, but definitely not one star kind of food.The music is way too loud, a bit overcrowded but service was good to handle it.Bad point about the shrimp dimsung, theyre not super great, I was kinda disappointed.The spicy chicken was very good and tasted like the original taste.Same as the other comments, the tips mandatory of 18% its kind of ridiculous and very badly forced to the clients.
This hidden gem looks like any other shop front on the outside, but the inside has many details that make it quite unique. Staff are attentive, even when the place is full with a 30 min wait during peak lunch time on a Sunday. We sat in a booth against the wall and ordered a number of different dishes.For me, the fried rice was the stand out dish. After my first bite, I found it hard not to compare and think it was cooked by my mum, who grew up in Hong Kong. I want to go back and try everything, as it looks and tastes like the real deal. No shortcuts here!
The smoked tea duck was fantastic! It has been awhile since I was last here - glad the standard is still there! They have done away with the set lunch menu.
Pretty good! Nothing crazy, but the food still had good flavor.
This is my favorite Szechuan restaurant in NYC!! I go to this restaurant every 3-4 months and it never disappoints me😆
Ordered takeout on a really packed Thursday. LOVED the veggie pot stickers but the Kung pao chicken didn’t really do it for me. I’m not sure how I felt about the texture of the chicken but I didn’t love it. Definitely would go back to try other dishes though
Was really excited to try this place. I’m a big fan of China Blue and know that they’re both the same owners. To be honest I personally prefer the food at China Blue. The scallion pancake, fish, and eggplant were good. However, the three pepper chicken was a little tough and chewy and mostly salty without having a dynamic range of flavors to it. The mapo tofu came with firm tofu which I don’t like. It also had a unique flavor to it, a little thicker in the sauce which was different. Overall, we were served dishes that were a little too derivative from the traditional authentic dishes that seem to be on the menu. Aside from that, the service was great and the atmosphere was nice and cozy. Decorated like a library it was perfect for a rainy day.
Have come here several times for lunch and have always had a pleasant experience. The lunch special is also a great deal. As a vegetarian, I usually get the fried rice with mustard green shoots and a spring roll. Took a star away because our order didn’t come out perfectly and the timing was a bit off.
Excellent tasty food that’s flavorful and yet not too spicy. The menu is very varied and we enjoyed every appetizer and main course dish. The ambience is also very modern, minimalist, friendly and welcoming. We’re definitely going back again and again👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Very authentic Sichuan cuisine. Good flavour and decent size of each dish. I particularly enjoyed the cold noodles. (It would be even better if you add skinny bean-spouts and more peanuts in). We will definitely go back. Next time I want to try other type of fish. The only thing I would recommend is maybe less salt is better and healthier. The dishes do taste slightly salty than it should be.
We went to this restaurant because we heard of it’s Michelin star. It was a disappointment. The dishes were mediocre. The service was lacking. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. It had this old China feeling. I will not recommend here to my friends.
Definitely worth Michelin star ⭐️! Must order their fried duck breast rice, was so delicious. Should try cocktails next time!
Been there twice and the dishes are all very authentic. Highly recommend
I think this place have a new owner now? It says soft opening at the front.. food is okay, not as good as before. Menu becomes so small now. Small portion but high price. Decor is okay, kinda feel like an influencer restaurant wanna be, but just not there yet. Waiters only speak English to you even if you speak Chinese to them… supper salty dishes… wont go there again…
Phenomenal. The sauce on the pork dumplings was so good that I wouldn’t let them give me a clean plate for the main course. Best kung pao chicken I’ve ever had. Michelin Star, 2 entrees, and an app for $44? You won’t regret it.
Very enjoyable Szechuan food. Flavors seemed a bit muted... Perhaps to not overwhelm the American palate. I would have liked more mala - spice and numbing.
Best Chinese in NYC!!! We had no idea when we searched google for Chinese food that this was a Michelin rated establishment. The wait was over an hour, so we ordered our food to go - the process was quick and easy. Was disappointed to discover they will not substitute anything on the menu. I really wanted chicken in garlic sauce, but they only offered pork in garlic sauce and were not willing to swap the protein. If you don’t like dark meat chicken and want chicken breast it’s a $4 up-charge, but I think it was worth it! We ordered the Kung Pao Chicken (one regular and one extra spicy) and the Chungking Spicy Chicken. We were told the Chungking Spicy Chicken was mild-medium spiciness, but it was make your tongue tingle, can’t feel my face kind of spicy. The chicken breast was a large portion and the pieces of meat were cut large and thin; the quality of the meat was top-notch! The regular Kung Pao Chicken was plenty spicy, and the extra spicy order was lip-tingling and hard to eat a lot of. If you like spicy, they certainly deliver!! It wasn’t a peppery kind of spicy either; the flavor was very authentic; we enjoyed everything so much!!
Well, one Michelin star doesnt mean it is delicious or authentic to Chinese. Considering the low price, good service, good decor, 4 google star. If you make Sichuan food, just be as punk, as hard rock, as crazy, as it suppose to be, and forget the rest. Then you will get five star, but lose the 1 star from Michelin. Good job anyway, good for you, foreigners. :) the decor and design is the old Shanghai style, where as the food is from Sichuan. Like have taco in a French restaurant kind of feel humm? Sichuan food have a lot of tung, lung, Heart, stuff, just be prepared and ask the servants before you order.
Had lunch with friends, not bad. The environment is good, but the serving is a bit slow
I used to be a regular at this restaurant before it moved to the new location, but today I had the biggest disappointment. The schedule online says it is open until 11pm. At 9:15 I called and they said last seating is at 9:30 with kitchen closing at 9:45pm. I literallg ran to the restaurant and got there at eaxtly 9:32pm only to be rejected. Went to Chilli next door (same closing time) and had an amazing dinner!
Fell upon this treat as we had been staying near it. I’m so glad we did. I have a new obsession with the Red Fish soup... so good I had to go back the next day for it again.
Very good szechuan style restaurant. Try the dumplings on chili oil - they are absolutely delicious.The staff is friendly and quick.
Delicious food, modest prices, friendly staff.Good ambience but could be improved. A bit too crowded but I suppose that’s simply a testament to the food quality.BE HERE
Delicious! We came here for lunch and it was a great experience. The bang band chicken (cold salad) was fantastic and so were the dumplings and the dan dan noodles.
Was interested to try this Sichuan restaurant out to see whether it would be to our taste. We had 3 appetisers and one main course. The dumplings were both fine though didnt really stand out very much. The pastry was reasonably thin though. The dan dan noodles were spicy (for us) but we liked them the most out of the appetisers we had. We werent so keen on the tea smoked duck though. I thought it was a little dry and my husband thought it was a little too salty.We avoided the more spicy dishes so our picks probably arent representative of the restaurants cuisine. So, you may only want to come here if you can take spicy food as the non-spicy food was okay, but not anything to get too excited about.The service was very efficient and we didnt have much problem getting a seat on an late Sunday morning, just before noon. Though there was a parade going on that day which may have caused the number of visitors to drop. Wed previously tried to come on an evening and it was packed.As others have mentioned theres no tipping required, which I prefer. Just wish more restaurants would pay their staff a decent wage and scrap tipping altogether.
Truly Authentic. As a Sichuanese from Chengdu I am amazed. Good portion for light eaters. Seasoned perfectly as Sichuan style restaurant.
Great food, excellent personell and we got in relatively quickly, being that others had to wait 40 minutes. The staff here made sire everything was perfect, thus improving our experience.The only con of this place is that you cannot make reservations if you dont have 8 + people with you.
Not quite sure what the hype around this restaurant is. There are more authentic Sizchuan places in NYC, but if it going for more accommodating (spice/seasoning wise) for the general population than it has wholly succeeded. The food isnt unremarkable, but the prices are quite low for a Michelin star restaurant. The staff are nice and the area was nothing special. Overall, if youre looking for some bougie version of Sizchuan cuisine than this is your place.
We come here for dinner, it is so busy and crowded that always need to wait 1 hour except if you set on the bar. Fried rice is the best of all.
Food is delicious. The restaurant is a 1 Michelin Star restaurant; I don’t think I need to say more about the food. Look at the photos. Service is fast. One of my favorite restaurants in NYC.Favorite Dishes:Dan Dan NoodlesChungking Braised Fish Stew - Red StyleDouble Cooked PorkShredded Beef and PepperA-ChoySnow pea leaves
Flavors were excellent, and I wish I had known it was BYOB! I am a bit of a weenie when it comes to spice but I braved the five alarm fire for the delicious cumin lamb entree (mind you this only had a 🌶 🌶 out of 4 or 5 so that should really set the stage for how Irish my flavor palate is). The Dan dan noodles were also superb! We ordered the husband and wife special which was good too, but I’d probably get something else next time.
An excellent and popular place to get Szechuan food in downtown Manhattan. Ordered the hot boiled fish, pumpkin balls and fried rice. The fish is authentic. The pumpkin balls are okay and the fried rice is a bit dry. Service is average. Will come to try other dishes. A bit pricey for the portion (~$30 per person).
Spotty service at best! Slow, unattentive and disinterested in your experience as a diner. No indication that they did not have a liquor license when booking reservation. Too many great places in the city to pay these prices for this treatment.
Delicious! Always order the spicy chili oil fish stew if you are in for a mouth numbing experience! Atmosphere was great - old Traditional Chinese music in the background, great nostalgic decor and efficient and friendly staff .
The food was OK. I have been there for lunch and dinner. Lunch was slightly early and on a Sunday, there was no line. Food came out super fast after ordering. The food was OK, good, but nothing special. The other time was for dinner, long line and waited for one hour.
This is a place that serves authentic Chinese food. Fresh with a perfect blend of heat and packed with flavor. The Pork with Garlic sauce was perfect.The wonton soup is simple and an outstanding way to start a meal.
Really good place! Chilly oil dumplings are amazing . Everything is spicy and delicious. The service is ok but could be a bit better. Would go back again for sure!
Oh man! This has to be one of the best places for lunch in the city 😋. The service is quick and the staff is super friendly. The spicy beef was great but the String Beans was definitely the star of my meal!
I decided to try this place because it had very good reviews; the taste of the food was great, yes; however, my experience wasn’t the best. I ordered delivery and it came with no forks, chop sticks or napkins, how were my family and I supposed to eat the noodles? we were staying at a hotel and they had no access to forks or utensils, so we ended up going to a CVS nearby to buy some. Also, the noodles were supposed to come with pork, but there was barely any meet in it. It was definitely not like the photo.
6/30/17 - not a bad sichuan spot. The mung bean is a little on the vingary side; the mapo is done well; beef tendon was spot on; the fish fillet had an odd flavor to it, but it might just be me.
Best Chinese restaurant in Manhattan.
The best Chinese food Ive had in the city! I especially recommend the eggplant, the bok choy, and the white fish stew. The wait is long (but usually shorter than the estimate they give you) but so worth it, and the food comes out fast! Dont get the rice wine soup for dessert -- the tangyuan are delicious but the soup itself has a sharp, almost citrus-y flavor. This place is a must-eat in NYC.
What a gem! I loved everything I ate here, it was quite the taste-experience.I came alone and was able to be seated at the bar, but most people had a wait time between 1:30-2 hours. My advice would be to go earlier than you actually would wanna eat and put your name in for later in the evening.
A bit disappointing but give it a try and choose your food wisely, this is not American Chinese.
Came here for lunch with girlfriend and we loved EVERYTHING - from the cocktails to the jellyfish to the smoked duck - fantastic! Service was excellent and we didnt feel rushed at all. Would def come back! The wrigley gum with the bill was adorable!
I loved the food and the ambiance. Went there for a birthday celebration and it was relaxed and enjoyable.
Great Chinese Sichuan style food in midtown. Always busy, try to get a reservation if you have a party large enough. It would get 5 stars if it wasnt for the B at the door (as of 5/2017)
This 1 michelin star restaurant is doing really great job for food quality and quantity. At lunch time you can have one entrée with choice of rice and soup or spring roll just for 12 bucks. They have plenty of options for vegetarian.
I used to like this place since it’s the only Michelin-stared Chinese restaurant, but today’s lunch is really disappointing! their double-cooked pork belly is way too salty ( but not too spicy).So this is my last transaction with them .
Waited too long even when we had a reservation. The foods were good, but too much flavored and seasoned. Some were salty to me. Overall, an okay restaurant.
Delicious dishes like the tiger salad or mapo tofu combined with great cocktails, a sensible no-tipping policy make this a great place for dinner.
Great place and autenthic Sichuan cuisine! Place to go to eat high quality Chinese food with fair prices
The most common problem with Chinese restaurants is quality consistency. You may get great food one day but average next time for the same dish at the same restaurant. I have been in Cafe China many times but get the exact same high quality of dishes every single time.
I thought the food was ok but for the price I think NYC has numerous better chinese spots. The lobster I ordered was a good portion but very hard to eat and a lot of the meat stuck to the shell.I was also grossed out by the fact that the Ice machine was located right in front of the bathroom, which means they have dirty ice. 🤭🤢🤮
Wonderful. Smoked Tofu, dumplings, Tea Duck and kung pao were all show stoppers
OMG this has to be the most overrated Szechuan restaurant in the city.Literally three minutes after ordering, all the food arrived. Even Gramma’s House isn’t this efficient, and it felt like guests should rush and be gone.The dishes are mediocre and really salty.You can find better take-out Chinese food than this.Seven-years of Michelin star?Please have more sense, judges.
The restaurant was great. I recommend the whole fish with ginger and scallion, the pork in garlic and soy dressing and steamed dump, the Chinese brócoli and the eggplant. The atmosphere is pleasant and enjoyable. The service is absolutely exceptional.
Perfect. Good attentive service. Fantastic food. Yummy drinks. Great location.
Delicious spicy Sichuan food, the beef and the pork belly were especially tasty
Complex, Spicy, and Delicious are Café China’s Sichuan and Sichuan-inspired Dishes - Eye popping tastes of peppers and spices were their Spicy Soft Shell Crab and Chongqing Spicy Chicken - Delightful is their soothing and wonderfully Steamed Fish - Save Room for their sticky and memorable Eight Jewel Rice Pudding - Service was good in this sultry ambience - Will definitely come back in trying more dishes!
The braised fish and tofu is amazing and spicy, so are the Dan Dan noodles. The string beans are solid. The duck is also solid. Love the after-dinner gum.
Remarkable taste, quick service and reasonable prices for a Michelin restaurant make Café China a must go for great food lovers.
Very authentic Sichuan food and nice waiters. They even mixed our noodles for us. Highly recommend spicy dumpling, potato and chicken in scallion. Dandan noodle was not what I expected, it tastes more like wuhan hot dry noodle.
I have been here multiple times. I like their decoration style very much. The food is great too.
Food served here are really nice. Anyone interested in real Sichuan dishes can add this to their list. Kung Pao Chicken and Kung fu Shrimp are beyond expectation.
Braised fish with tofuI dont understand how place like this could obtain #michelinstar for number of years;; bussers, food runners and hostess were so freckling rude! Not trained at all with no proper manners. Cooks and employees smoking right by the entrance of the restaurant blocking the way in and out giving you wierd uncomfortable looks. will not be surprised if I dont see these guys on the list next year.
Great Service. The Chungking Chicken was very good. The other dishes we tried were too sweet for our palette. That being said have the Vesper drink and all is good. Enjoy
I went with a friend looking for Szechuan food. This place is usually crowded but we were seated for dinner after just a short wait. Ive always liked the decor here and every dish we ordered was good.
I spent $27 for Chungking Braised Fish Stew, when I brought it to home and found only 4-5 small pieces of fish meat in it. Other was just water!Tried to call their office several times, never had somebody answering the phone.The worst restaurant experience I ever had!(Video attached).
Third time back and I dont regret it. I will always be back for more authentic Chinese food. The spices mix in so well with the flavor, its the perfect combination of savory and spicy. The mood is set with perfect lighting and there are so many great dishes to choose from. I highly recommend the ChongQing Steamed Fish and the Husband & Wife thing.Anyway, I just love this place, except it did in fact get more expensive than two years ago
As a Chinese and Sichuan food lover I don’t really understand how they got one Michelin star. But I can tell western tongue would love their food.
Beautiful restaurant, soft opening. No liquor license but regardless, great service, good food. Will be back and bring friends!
Damn, son! This place is on point. Some of the best Chinese food I have ever had... and I have had a lot.
Great service and always had my cup for water filled! Food was delicious and cooked well. Enjoyed my dinning outside with plenty of space. Not too busy and a the restaurant had a humble vibe but is rated appropriately. Yum.
The food was increíble! My favorite was the fried rice with shredded duck, I would simple die for that rice. The flavor was out of this world.We ordered Dan Dan noodles, Kung Pao chicken, fried rice with shredded duck, pork dumplings in chili oil and wanton soup.It was enough for 3 people, except if you’re used to USA portions 😬
An absolutely amazing experience. The fried rice was the best Ive ever had and the lobster was equally excellent. The staff is attentive and polite, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the bartender has a somewhat heavy pour. I look forward to going back.
We like to try new places....We are sooooo glad we did! This was a SPECIAL treat. We went there not knowing what to expect...got there and they told us it was going to be an 1 hour wait...so we placed our name and went walking...20 minutes later they called and had a seat waiting for us even with us being away 10 minutes away in Byrant Park. The place is small but that what makes the experience. The Food was phenomenal ...Defiantly a must go !
Great food, most of the food in the menu is spicy. The staff was really friendly. It can be crowded but it’s worth.
The food was tasty and the stuff very attentive. I also enjoyed the dessert, delicious tiramisu!I
A Michelin 1 star restaurant with $12-15 lunch specials? I assumed there must be a catch: small portions, limited options, etc. None such.Ive been 4-5 times now and I always have an incredible meal. I leave full and happy for less than $18 for soup, entree and rice. My favorites are the lightly sauteed fish and the eggplant in garlic sauce. Their hot and sour soup is amazing!
Heavily recommend the dumplings in chili oil and the wonton soup. The triple chili chicken and Dan Dan noodles were very good too.
This place deserves its Michelin star. Food was very good and was remarkably affordable. The duck was my favorite dish, but the beef was spicier than I anticipated. Had to wait 15-20 minutes, but the food made up for it, and overall it was a good experience. Has a very cozy atmosphere.
Good food and quick service. They dont accept tips, surprisingly.Recommend duck tongue.
Great vibe. Some dishes great. Some ok. And that’s ok.
Didn’t know what to expect but the food was great. The Dan dan noodle and the pancake was very good.
Their steamed whole fish is the best fish that I have ever eaten in US!
So efficient and quick service which gave me a big relief and peace of mind.Recommending them 10/10.
Great flavors, perfect textures, not overcooked, just the right level of succulent.
I ordered the kung pow chicken at the recommendation of a family member and I have to say it was absolutely delicious! Ive had the dish before at other Chinese restaurants but this was unlike anything Ive ever had. I would STRONGLY recommend Cafe China.
Good Chinese restaurant specialized in spicy Szechuan food.Smaller portion comparing to other Chinese places, but good quality. Very nice 1920s old Shanghai themes decor.All my dining in experiences were good, but for some reason my only takeout experience during pandemic was terrible. The food tasted meh and definitely didn’t even get all the right ingredients. I know because I always order the same thing.
Nice
The food was ok. However, it is definitely not a kids-friendly restaurant. We took our daughter there for lunch today. When we asked if they had any booster seats or high chairs, the waiter told us that his boss never prepared such stuff ever with an arrogant attitude. No matter how high their food was rated, we will never go to this place.
Best food and atmosphere I’ve experienced in a long time
Very attentive and friendly service but food was not extra special. Great cocktails tho.
Very flavorful real Szechuan food in elegant decor and ambiance with dimmed lights. State of the art table service. It’s one of my favorite place. Reservation often needed.
I was very interested in trying one of the 2 Michelin star Chinese restaurants in NYC. The food was good...not Michelin star quality. Service was ok. Definitely dont go here for atmosphere. The Kung Pao chicken, beef with garlic sauce, scallion pancake, fried rice with pork, and noodles in szechuan sauce were all very good.
If you like Szechuan spicy, this is your must order. It is so good. And the staff were very nice.
This food name is a Double pork?? i forgot the name... whatever This food taste is similar to korea’s stir-fry spicy pork very delicious!
The michelin star means $$$, but the food is great and I especially enjoyed my lychee cocktail (looks like skewered scallops in the photo).
We have been wanting to dine here for over a year, and we finally did so tonight. The Michelin star is well deserved for the food, and the service was top notch. I feel lucky to have been able to eat here - it will be hard to get a table once NYC returns to normal. We loved the dan dan noodles, the pork dumplings in chili oil, the kung fu shrimp and the kung pao chicken. Everything was amazing. We capped things off with a special dessert rice wine soup that was a real treat. I hope I get to go back soon.
The place is a bit small but definitely a cozy environment. If you plan to dine in for lunch, I suggest you get there early. I ordered the Lunch Special Three Pepper Chicken - $11 (requested mild). I didnt take a picture because there were so many posted here and now I see why. It was so good! My friend ordered the same dish but regular. She expressed that is was VERY spicy. So if youre not really into spicy foods and want to try it, DEFINITELY request it mild. I highly recommend and I cant wait to go back to try the Sweet and Sour Ribs!
Staff is very rude. They say they close at 11 but they really close one hour before. If you get 40 minutes before 11 they won’t sit you down. Terrible!
Very good spicy food. Long wait but well manager wait system.
We were seated swiftly. Small place with a ample seating. It filled up quickly. Service was speedy. Friendly servers. I had the sweet and sour short ribs with white rice. My friend had saiteed beef. I was told that the 3 pepper chicken is to die for. The result is were OK. The sauteed beef tasted better. It was spicy but not overkill. The spring rolls were tasty. I would go back simply because the service was great. It is worth the experience. Definitely try it if near by.
Tasty food (homemade style) and great decor.
Not surprised about the Michelin rating. Absolutely delicious and authentic. The Pork Dumplings in Chili Oil are outstanding! Everything here is great.
Super yummy food, but definitely pay heed to the number of chili peppers designated for each dish on the menu. The cold tofu and celery dish is underrated, so definitely get it! Its a great thing to eat between bites of the spicier entrees.
Great food, every year they got one Machelen award!
Id eat here every day if I was a wealthy man. A.little expensive, but very delicious.
Stopped by Cafe China for dinner on a Saturday night @ 5:30. For a party 4, the hostess said there would be a ~30 minute wait so we put our names down. After about 5 minutes we got a call and hurried back to be seated. Nice!The ambience of the spot is homey with an authentic Sichuan feel. Its a narrow space so get ready to finesse your way through the restaurant to make it to your seat. The menu comes in a cute little book and is lengthy. Theres all of the standard Sichuan appetizers: we went with the Husband & Wife Lung Slices (dont worry these arent actually king slices, its tripe!), Garlic Cucumber, Sichuan Chicken in red oil sauce.All were delicious; held true to the Sichuan taste, but nothing astounding. The Sichuan Chicken in red oil sauce was the best out of the apps.For mains we got the shredded potato, mapo tofu, chinese broccoli, and eggplant. I love mapo tofu and China Cafe does it right. Its a bit oily but has a thick sauce at the bottom that packs a punch. This went perfect with the side of brown rice (yes they have brown rice!) and coupled beautifully with the other entrees.The food comes out fast. My one qualm is the portions are on the smaller side: so order extra!
Food is good. Crowded spot and busy, but somehow theyre able to smoothly cater to the crowd.Not sure how they are able to maintain the Michelin star based on the aged decor and the less than clean feel of the place.If you dont like spicy, be careful...even mild can be too spicy for some.
It was the first time I saw auto grat. It was weird. They push you to pay 18% or above. I normally tip 20% no matter what. 18% before tax is fine. I just do not feel comfortable of this auto grat. Also the food was not authentic Sichuan cuisine. Some dieshes tasted ok though.
Went back to the new location of Cafe China and food still very good
Food too good to even get a picture. So you know the place is great. Lobster entré beyond amazing. Bak choy one of my favorite go toos and the scallion pancakes and the shrimp dumplings are great to start off your meal.
Cafe China is the best Chinese food restaurant in NYC hands down. The food is fresh, and delicious. Its much lighter and less greasy than generic Chinese take out. Highly recommend everyone try Cafe China.
Totally authentic Chinese food! They use real sriracha sauce, so our tongues were numb and tingly with some of the dishes (this feeling on the tongue is how you know the sauce is real). The service was impeccable and seamless like a well-oiled machine. We got our food quickly and were in and out in an hour. The waiters were very nice. The ambience is early 1900s Chinatown. Prices were very reasonable. Highly recommend this Michelin star restaurant!
I liked the Chengdu spicy dumplings. Food tasted fresh and the service was great!
Always great ! My fav Restaurant in NYC
The taste of dishes is fine, not amazing. The amount is pretty small. The most importantly, the attitude of the service is very bad. When I had dinner with friend around 6:00pm, they checked whether we were still eating and wanted to take away the plates for five times, with one hour. The business is good and the restaurant is busy in the lunch and dinner time, however, the attitude and reputation are the long term property for a business!
The food was amazing and the service was spot on! The servers were very attentive and awesome. Keep refilling your water and asking if you would need anything. On weekday, the best time to dine in is before 5:45. No wait at all. It was my first Michelin star restaurant experience but definitely will become a regular place since they keep up with the quality all the time. Highly recommend it!!!!
Rude, slow service. Food is good, but it doesnt make up for the lack of service and basic manners. If you do decide the food might be worth the wait, get ready to raise your hand to order a drink, order your meal, get the check, pay the check...Update: February 23, 2022I decided to try again at the new location. I arrived at 9:20 p.m. The host refused to seat me because they were closed. When I informed her that their website indicated they were open until 10:30 with a last seating at 9:30, she said they were fully booked, including at the bar. As I left, I took a look inside - the restaurant had plenty of open tables and the bar (with at least 5 seats) was occupied by one person.This place deserves to fail simply because of poor management, despite the good food.
Very well deserving of its Michelin star! Some of the best Chinese Ive ever had at a very affordable rate for NY
Total reviews rating 4.3
199 Reviews for Caf China 2023:
Review №1
2022-02-15Delicious. Perfect spot to go for Chinese dishes on a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon. The ambience is elegant, dim and great for dates or meeting with friends. The service was difficult to find at times, staffing was definitely not an issue, it just seemed that they were not as aware or as attentive. The dishes themselves were delicious. The tea soaked duck however, was barely edible as almost the entire dish was fat. I love the skin, but when the fat is accounting for 75% of the actual dish, it becomes sickening to eat any more than three bites. The drinks are strong, but for the $15 price, I’d expect some type of garnish, not foam from the ice shaker or small bits of ice leftover.
Review №2
2022-07-09Let me tell you, if you want salt this is the place to go! Theres not a saltier meal that I could ever imagine having. The flavor is definitely there but the salt level is there times 10,000. The drinks are not made lightly and are delicious, good thing because you need copious drinks to wash down all the salt. Dont get me wrong, I love salt however this is far too much. I measure my food based on if I could make it at home better, I feel like if I were to measure it against this it would be as if I dumped my entire bottle of salt in my food. Its a cool place to check out but I would definitely expect more from the big apple.They are very efficient, waiter came over with the Bill literally 20 seconds after the table was cleared which was cleared immediately after setting down our chopsticks. We also did not feel rushed at all and we were here at closing time.
Review №3
2021-12-15Relocated restaurant where me and my sister used to visit. Unfortunately, the building that they’re currently in has no liquor license (as of December 15, 2021), but the bartender advised us that it will approximately take about a month for them to be able to serve cocktails. They used to have amazing cocktail selections and we’re looking forward for them to return to action next year (2022). Some people might feel their food too salty, but if you order in the right combination, your mouth will experience an amusement park of tasteful journey. I’m definitely visiting more after their bar is back in action🍹
Review №4
2022-07-04*EDIT* THEY ARE VERY KIND!!! I lost my purse in the bathroom and they kept it for me and verified my identity too. Soooo kind and made my day. I have my purse back now!This was my first time- and I was not disappointed! The portions of entrees are huge, definitely splitting size if you got any dim sum. The scallion pancakes were the best I’ve ever had! Red bean ice cream and scallion pancakes were my favorite!
Review №5
2022-04-17Update, they are serving alcohol (April 2022) Good restaurant that opens a bit late. 10pm is the last call. Skip the soup dumplings, daikon is fantastic (very generous portion) the pepper shredded beef is good taste, beef itself is a bit chewy. Overall meets expectations I’d recommend it if you are in the area.
Review №6
2022-06-14Have been to this restaurant more times than I can count and its always delicious. Newly opened, the new Café China looks spiffier but hasnt lost its home style touch. Highlights:- Daikon - recommended by our waiter. Surprisingly very crunchy with a nice sweet/ spicy zing.- Pork wraps - smothered in sweet soy, the inside veggies add a nice crunch although a little slimy. The taste is great- Spicy chicken - the one we got was deep fried which was ok but a bit dry. Ill come back and try the tender spicy one next time.- Duck fried rice - yum- Eggplant and green beans - cooked really well and flavored nicelyFantastic cocktails and service. Well be back!
Review №7
2022-06-10Came here looking for an authentic Sichuan dining experience and certainly wasn’t let down. Ambience was great but since we were moved up to their upper floor it did seem a bit crowded at times. Apart from that, however, the food was delicious, perfectly spicy and flavorful. Hugely recommend the fish and three pepper chicken.
Review №8
2022-01-16One of the best Chinese restaurants in NYC in my opinion. My goto for Sichuan cuisine. Overall the food and vibes are more modern than many of the CN food in US. Recently relocated and renovated. As of 2021 Dec they are still waiting for the license for serving alcohol.
Review №9
2022-01-04Traditional Chinese cuisine ! Very tasty 😋 inside and outside very calm and beautiful design! Amazing service! Found it expediently but absolutely fall in love with this place!
Review №10
2022-04-19One of the best Chinese restaurants in NYC in my opinion especially for Sichuan cuisine. Overall the food and vibes are quite modern. Recently relocated and renovated. Every dish was delicious, the wait staff were very friendly and efficient. Nice cocktails too. Highly recommend!!