Beef Jerky Chinatown

Where is that beef jerky store in Chinatown everyone raves about? Going to NY Noodletown for some softshells and thought I would stop by. Any other treats I should grab in the area? I read about the squid lady in the Post 2 days ago under best street meat. Any suggestions appreciated.

[didactic katydid]

Today I went to Ling Kee Beef Jerky (south side of Canal Street, east of Allen, before you reach the East Broadway F). Little, empty-looking place with mouth-watering squares of chicken, pork, and beef jerky (and spicy versions of each). Seemed a little pricier than I thought it might be--$3.50-$4 for a quarter pound, up to $16/pound--but in retrospect I think those prices were quite fair. For 4 bucks I got several big pieces and could only finish one.

as mentioned above, these were moist and warm and very delicious. the pork was great--it was sweet, like BBQ pork. the beef was also a little sweet (maybe too much so) but still the best beef jerky I've ever had (compared to the usual dry, cold stuff).

I'll be back!

Over a year ago I made a similar post and ended up trying the jerky place on bayard. The jerky was wet, is this how all chinese jerky is? Is there any where that's gonna have western american style jerky, or something similar?

2 I've noted from previous posts:

- New Jerky King on Mulberry and Bayard

- Jung's Dried Beef - 95A Elizabeth St

haven't tried them yet. good luck. would be cool to hear a report on your Chinatown trip...

The Vietnamese make a great spicy jerky which i've yet to find in NY. At Viet places in Atlanta (!) and in California I always seem to find some. It's sold in a ziploc bag w/no text. It's supposed to be produced in Ca. It's dense, spicy w/a reddish tint and chili seeds.

I'm 90% sure that I've gotten the Vietnamese ones you're describing from the Bali(? the characters for Paris in Chinese)grocery/video/Bahn Mi place at the entrance to the Manhattan bridge, next to a temple.

There's a Jung's Dried Beef on Mulberry just south of Bayard. I think that the place in Elizabeth goes by a different name.

Here's what I've tried...

Jung's Dried Beef (58 Mulberry):[my favorite out of these 3 places]

Spicy Beef Jerky - Not very spicy. Moist and tasty.
Spicy Pork Jerky - Not very spicy. Moist and tasty.
Sweet Beef Jerky - Moist, VERY tasty.
Sweet Pork Jerky - Moist, VERY tasty.

I go back to Jung's often and have gotten a few people addicted to their jerky.

New Beef King (89 Bayard - next to Shanghai Cuisine):

Fruity Beek Jerky - not very good. Didn't really taste fruity, but sweet like candy (bubblegum ??). Not a good combo.

Curry Beek Chunks - Pretty good. Not much of a curry flavor (but maybe I'm not familiar with Asian curry, only Indian curry). Tasted more like bar b q spare ribs. A little dry but still soft, not tough at all.

Spicy Beef Jerky - Not hot, but has a slight sting to it.

There is a slight flavor in most of New King's jerky that I just don't like. Don't know what it is.

95-A Elizabeth:

This place serves beef jerky in squares (about the size of 2 credit cards). They grill the squares and keep them warm which I think lends to them being very greasy. I'm not sure how long these squares can be kept (maybe the same amount of time as non-grilled jerk, I just don't know). This place also had a wider variety of jerky than the other's (beef, pork, chicken).

Spicy Beef - Very tasty and has some heat (the spiciest of the jerky's I've tried).

Spicy Pork - Very tasty, same heat as beef (slightly sweet, which seems to be the way all pork jerky's are)

Oops, that should read Fruity Beef and Curry Beef (not Beek)

great info. printin' this one. thanks!

there is a place near the bottom of orchard street too. i've never tried it.

Thanks very much for the posting. I found a place when I was walking from Essex and Grand to the Bowery south of Canal Street, a good chunk of the way along Division Street, but I don't remember its name or exactly where it was---the jerky was quite moist, and they had chicken jerky (a pretty scary thought, really, but tasted o.k.), but I don't think I was on Elizabeth Street. If I had to guess, it would be on Division near Orchard.

Anybody know this place? I can't get there myself, but a friend promised to send me some if I could tell him where it would be. Thanks,
--M.T..