Chinatown: Canal and Baxter where to eat?

[hungrycomposer]

I have to go to Canal and Baxter (two blocks east of Lafayette). Any recommendations for where to pick up something good to eat in a hurry? I'll only have a few minutes to spare before I head home on the subway.

[tracywongalong]

Right between Canal and Bayard on Baxter St is ChinaVillage, they have really quick takeout
Just grab their to-go menu and order a fried rice, noodleplate, rice platter, or noodlesoup ('cause their other options are pretty large portions)

If you're heading home early (before 4PM) they've got a great lunch special
It's around 7-8 bucks I think for a soda, rice, soup (they offer three choices for the lunch special: egg drop, hot and sour, or their daily soup- which, if you prefer something more chinese than eggdrop or hot and sour is DELICIOUS; usually something similar to seaweed soup or something) and you choose a meal off the lunch special which I read has 50 or so options ranging from guilty pleasures like sesame chicken to the more traditional tastes of pig intestines with sour cabbage or beef with mixed vegetables or something

[Tikkanen]

I think Hoy Wong was shut down by the health inspector's office. I tried going there tonight and saw a sign posted in the window. Funny thing is that the health inspector website doesn't list it (yet).

We ended up going to (I believe) Canal Seafood Restaurant, which had OK duck. What was not OK was the crappy service and the automatic tip they put on the bill. This was in addition to charging for tea that we didn't drink (although I've seen that elsewhere).

[Pan]

What did you do about that? I've _never_ been charged for regular pots of tea at Chinese restaurants. And this was an automatic tip for how many people?

[Tikkanen]

automatic tip for two people only. The only reason I knew to look for it was I overheard a Chinese couple asking about it earlier. I didn't dispute the tea charge, because I've seen it done before (the gringo tax?). You also don't get rice with meals.

[Pan]

Yes, there is typically a small charge per bowl of rice in Chinatown, but the charge for tea is a new one on me. Service charge for 2 people is very unusual.

[kobetobiko]

Perhaps not common in Chinatown, but almost all large-sized restaurants in Hong Kong have a tea charge per person, usually a dollar or two per diner.

[scoopG]

Most, if not all Manhattan and Flushing Chinatown restaurants include the cost of rice, tea (and NYC sales tax) in their bill - in my experience.

[Chandavkl]

Dim sum restaurants are more likely to charge you for tea. My sense is that more places are starting to charge for rice than before.

[scoopG]

Could be - but I was at three different places over the weekend in Chinatown and none charged extra for tea or rice - although Yummy Noodle's $5.15 charge for their meatless soup version of Dan Dan Noodles was close to highway robbery. Places along Canal are mostly tourist traps taking advantage of one-time visitors.

[Pan]

You mean there's a separate line for tea in your bill, or that the cost is simply included in the overall price of items? Because again, I don't ever remember seeing a specific charge for a regular pot of tea (or replacements thereof) in the bill at a Chinese restaurant in New York. Rice is usually charged separately in Chinatown, and most restaurants charge separately for sales tax but some (like Great NY Noodletown) include it in the price of items.

[DarthEater]

Hmm...I agree. The only place I've seen a tea charge is in massive dim sum halls - usually like a $1 and change per person - which is normal, but never in a restaurant. Rice is charged by the bowls if you don't order the rice plates. I guess the automatic service charge was implemented because they were constantly stiffed by European visitors.

[Pan]

That rings true to me.

[scoopG]

No - all-in price.

[hungrycomposer]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was a one-minute walk from Sun Say Kai. Got the baked bbq pork buns, a combination bun, and a coconut bun. I liked the first two best, but the coconut bun grew on me as well. Also picked up half a pound of roast pork which was surprisingly good. Excellent tip, perfect solution since it was close, fast, delicious, and cheap.

[brettnyc]

Not sure if this is quick or portable enough, but I've been meaning to try the char siu from Hoy Wong (81 Mott) or Big Wong(67 Mott), btwn Canal and Bayard. Doesn't travel as easy as dim sum, but would be easier than some other dishes...

[Chandavkl]

Grab some take out dim sum at Sun Say Kai, 220 Canal St. Baked BBQ pork buns are pretty good--discussed in a long thread last year.

[hungrycomposer]

Thanks! The location is perfect. Is there anything else you like there? The threads also point to their steamed buns.

[Chandavkl]

Frankly, one steamed bun and one baked bun will probably fill you up. Don't think I'd go for any of the non dim sum items.

[xigua]

I h aven't been there in a while, but the roasted meats are actually very decent.
For sweets at sun say kai, their ma lai gou is very authentic.