Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I recommend the Pea Shoots with two eggs (duck egg and 1,000 year egg) at Cantoon Gardens (Elizabeth, between Canal and Bayard, east side of street); Pork Wonton Soup at NY Noodletown (I've heard you can't go wrong with the shrimp wonton either - crnr of Bayard and Bowery); just about any of the casseroles at Congee Village (Allen Street - their baked chicken is also excellent); soup dumplings at New Green Bo, on Bayard (have heard raves about their Tong To Pork as well); the legendary "Combination Bun" at the Bayard Street warhorse, Mei Lei Wah Coffee Shop; meatball congee, as well as a variety of Hong Kong style cheese covered dishes at XO Kitchen (on Hester); the congees are generally excellent at Congee, on Bowery, as well (I have heard they also have excellent medicinal soups as well, cooked with black chicken and dates); the dumplings and sesame pancakes at Dumpling House on Eldridge Street (although rumour has it that Prosperity Dumpling, also on Eldridge, is even better); New Wonton Gardens, on Mott Street, serves up some excellent, nuts and bolts noodle dishes for cheap; Speaking of cheap, you might want to check out some of the Fujianese places that have started to line Division Street between the Manhattan Bridge and Chatham Square, such as New Bei Wei and Golden Bowl, for - if not the best food - the best value in Chinatown. 3 choices out of many dishes, rice and soup for about 4 or 5 bucks. For dessert, go for bubble tea at any number of bakeries such as Fay Da, on Mott I believe, or some Egg Custard tarts out of the psychedelic kickline selection that greats you from under the counter at Egg Custard King on the southeast corner of Grand and Chrystie. Enjoy. P.