Nom Wah Tea Parlor

Nom Wah Tea Parlor at 13 Doyers Street in Manhattan's Chinatown dates to 1920 and is regarded as the neighbourhood's oldest dim sum house. Doyers Street is a short, curved lane with a colourful history, and the restaurant occupies a corner storefront that retains a vintage look. The cuisine is Cantonese dim sum, and instead of the roving carts once common in dim sum halls, diners tick items on a printed checklist that goes to the kitchen and returns as fresh small plates. The original roast pork bun, a soft baked bun with sweet barbecued pork filling, is the emblematic dish. Shrimp and snow pea shoot dumplings, egg rolls, shrimp rice rolls, pork siu mai and turnip cakes are other staples, and the dishes are meant to be shared across the table. The dining room combines retro-diner details, counter stools and booths with a lively, informal atmosphere, and noise is moderate to high when full. There is no dress code. Tea is central to the experience, with pots of hot tea served throughout the meal, and the restaurant also offers a small selection of soft drinks and beer. Nom Wah generally operates on a walk-in basis, and visitors should expect a wait at weekend brunch, while weekday mornings and mid-afternoons are much quieter. Parties should check the restaurant's website or call for any current reservation or waitlist arrangements. Prices are moderate, with most dishes costing a few dollars to around ten dollars, so a shared meal for two commonly costs about forty to sixty dollars. The location is convenient for exploring the surrounding streets of Chinatown, and the restaurant is within walking distance of the Manhattan Bridge, Columbus Park and other food stops in Lower Manhattan, making it a good base for a dim sum meal within a wider walk through Chinatown in New York City.