Dim Sum and the Manhattan Bridge
What this foodstroll is
Our favorite way to spend an afternoon in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
Why this foodstroll works
While the Manhattan Bridge may not have the same brand recognition as its neighbor, it also has 99% fewer tourists, better views, and no bikers who believe exactly half the bridge belongs to them on crowded nice weather weekends. It also happens to originate and terminate (depending on what side you start from) in the heart of Chinatown and Brooklyn Bridge Park. It takes about 30-40 minutes to cross depending on your level of fitness and the age of your children, and you could time it so that you start in Brooklyn Bridge Park, spend the morning walking the bridge, and then reward yourself with Dim Sum for lunch. Or you could start in Chinatown, reward yourself in advance, and then spend the afternoon walking it off.
Strolling
Choose which direction you’d like to walk, and remember the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges can be done together as one continuous loop, so a full day foodstroll is always on the table.
The Manhattan Bridge the Brooklyn Bridge’s longer, louder, and less touristy younger sibling. It has a spacious walking path, uncrowded and safe. Completed in 1909, it was the third of NYC’s four toll free brides to connect Manhattan to Long Island (Brooklyn and Queens).
The bridge offers spectacular views of lower Manhattan and Midtown, as well as some great NYC roof art. In general the streets of Chinatown are littered with iconic NYC imagery, so bring your camera.
Manhattan’s Chinatown is the oldest of NYC’s nine Chinese ethnic enclaves, and has the highest concentration of ethnic Chinese in the Western Hemisphere. Famous streets include Mott, Bayard, Pell, and of course Canal, but you can get a sense for things all over the neighborhood.
The entrance to the bridge on the Manhattan side will put you smack in the thick of things, and there’s no shortage of stimulation for kids on every block. Remember, everything in Chinatown is negotiable, so don’t be afraid to ask for discounts.
Unofficially there are two areas, a Cantonese speaking section west of Bowery and a Mandarin speaking section east of Bowery. But practically speaking, there’s plenty of action on the streets no matter where you are.
Columbus Park, formerly Five Points Park, was once the most dangerous place in NYC, as memorialized in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York. Today it’s a popular meeting spot for locals to play mahjong, checkers, and practice tai chi. The statue at the north end is of of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, first president of the Republic of China.
The Triumphal Arch and Colonnade at the Manhattan entrance to the bridge was completed in 1915 and is one of three remaining triumphal arches in NYC. Our kids were only moderately interested in the Greek Revival masterpiece.
Unlike the Brooklyn Bridge which has no subway tracks, several trains cross the Manhattan Bridge every few minutes. It gets loud when subways pass by, but our kids don’t mind.
Food Spots
1. Golden Unicorn
Golden Unicorn is a famous Chinatown spot and pioneer of Cantonese banquet hall style Dim Sum. It’s centrally located near the entrance of the Manhattan Bridge and Chatham Square.
All their steamed menu items like Shrimp Sui Mai, Pork Buns, and Shrimp Rice Rolls are dependable winners. Cart service Dim Sum is traditionally eaten at lunch (or for breakfast), and their busiest hours are earlier in the day.
The iconic Nom Wah Tea Parlor has both indoor and outdoor dining. FYI waits are shorter later in the day. The Pan Fried Pork Dumplings are a family favorite.
The food, which is made to order, takes just a few minutes longer than its cart service contemporaries. Pork Buns, Shrimp Siu Mai, and Chicken Feet are great ways to spend $5.
Dim Sum Go Go is another great made to order spot right next to the central, bustling Kimlau Square. The square is a memorial to Benjamin Kimlau, a Chinese-American bomber pilot killed in WW2.
The Dim Sum platters are a good way to sample the dumplings. The Crab Meat, Curry Beef, and Roast Duck dumplings are our three favorites.
4. Wah Fung No 1 Fast Food
Wah Fung is the best Cantonese takeout spot in Chinatown. We know technically this isn’t Dim Sum, but it’s a great option if you just want to grab food and keep things moving. They serve four things - Roast Pork (char siu), Roast Pig (pork belly), Roast Duck, and Roast Chicken.
Most people will tell you to order the Roast Pork, which is very good, but our favorite is the crispy Roast Pig. You’ll need to wait in line most hours of the day, but once you get your food, Hester St Park is right across the street, and there are plenty of benches.
Some historians believe ice cream was invented in the Mongol Empire and China about 800 years ago. We have no opinion on that, but do know Chinatown Ice Cream Factory has been making NYC’s best Chinese Ice Cream for 40 years.
They have plenty of traditional American options, but we like trying the Asian stuff, like Black Sesame, Durian, and Red Bean flavors. It’s a perfect end to an epic Foodstroll!
Transportation
Nearly every subway in NYC passes relatively close to Chinatown and The Manhattan Bridge, including the N, Q, R, W, 6, J, Z, B, D, and F lines. The A, C, F, 2, and 3 lines service DUMBO on the Brooklyn side. Streetside parking is possible in DUMBO, especially a few blocks away from the action.