Chinese restaurants are not a rarity in a city that is known for having one of the largest Chinatowns outside of Asia. Chinese traders first traveled to New York in the mid eighteenth century, bringing with them Asian spices and recipes that have now grown to become a major part of New York’s Chinese culture.

Some of the best Chinese restaurants in the New York area may not be aesthetically pleasing, but their menus produce an adventurous myriad of authentic Cantonese and Mandarin dishes. Dim sum restaurants throughout Chinatown offer a host of dishes, including pork dumplings, shrimp balls, spare ribs and steamed buns—all served by the traditional cart-towing servers. Other Chinatown eateries present you with simmering bowls of noodles and stir-fry within minutes of when your orders are taken.

For those who prefer not-so-authentic Chinese cuisine, some New York neighborhoods, like Flushing, East Village and Midtown East, also provide an abundance of Chinese restaurants that incorporate American, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and Korean influences. In addition, trendy Pan-Asian restaurants scattered throughout Manhattan often dish up innovative Chinese dishes, served with Western presentations.

To sum it up, New York City provides tourists and locals with a plentiful selection, even when it comes to a Chinese meal. So whether you’re in the mood for Shanghai noodles or Peking duck or just an American meal with Chinese flair, you’ll definitely find something to please your appetite in the Big Apple.