The food - absolutely incredible. The dishes have bold and unique flavors that are definitely worth…read morechecking out. However, everything is rather pricey for the portions you get. The service - we had a weird experience with the manager and servers and made us feel very unwelcomed...I won't go into specifics but I dine at many restaurants and have never been made to feel this way before :( for that reason, it's going to be tough to come back. The ambience - it's rather small and quaint. It feels cozy and I love that you can see the chefs making your order and the entire kitchen working. However, if there are people waiting to dine, it can feel packed as people kind of hang out and stand behind you while you are eating. I'd say this was a rather unique and different dining experience, however, the food really stood out and these are dishes you really can't get anywhere else.

Wow ! What an amazing spot, probably one of my tops reccs in NYC. Amazing service to begin with,…read morebut the food is truly the star. The fusion of flavors and balance truly makes every dish amazing. Came into their HH which I highly recommend. They have a $25 nigiri set that is worth it imo during HH- don't get me wrong it's great nigiri but I just love their dishes and think they are worth the splurge. Fish sausage burger (uses no sausage/pork) is insane, very much worth it especially on HH!! REALLY amazing blends of unique flavors that are still all so well balanced. Great date spot or if you're wanting to impress someone!

Mala Project knows dry pot, and their LES location delivers…read more The entrance is a bit chaotic, there's not much space in the narrow area, and the host desk is merged with the bar. But once you make it past there, the restaurant is a bit more roomy (relatively) and spread out. The dry pot is indeed fantastic. Lots of spice to keep things interesting for the main, and both the tofu and pickled veggies appetizers were just as delicious. All at a price that keeps the NYU students and early career twenty-somethings filling seats every night. I'd recommend making a reservation to preempt said crowds, and more generally because you'll be in for a fantastic meal.

First time here and we loved it. We of course both ordered the dry pot, which is clearly the star…read moredish of Mala Project. The restaurant makes its own signature sauces ranging from soy ginger (no spice) to extra spicy. While I usually go for a medium spice level, I had to choose here from 'little spicy' and 'spicy'. I went with the former, which I still found to be plenty spicy, with a healthy offering of chili oil and a whole host of other flavors, like soy, fresh pepper, garlic, and ginger. It's absolutely delicious and completely makes the dish. My husband got the spicy, which to me was really spicy... manageable, but for my palate, it kind of overtook the rest of the flavors. The list of meats, seafoods, veggies, and other items is long, and 3-5 items per person are recommended. I got the pork belly, glass noodles, king oyster mushrooms, baby corn, and potatoes. The ingredients went well together and were tasty, though some pieces were slightly overcooked (pork belly) or undercooked (potato). The mushrooms were super meaty! My husband got the chicken thighs (so good), glass noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus. I also enjoyed a Yuzu pilsner, which had a light fruitiness that blended well with the pilsner flavor and cut some of the spiciness. One slight bummer, since it was a nice night, was that I was expecting the back garden to be open air. It was actually enclosed, though the temperature was comfortable.

Food: We got the Triple Treasure Beef Noodle Soup, pork chop over rice, and chili oil wontons, and…read moreit was genuinely hard to pick a favorite. What stood out most was how deliberate each dish felt. Every ingredient seemed to have a thoughtful purpose, adding its own little dimension rather than just being there for the sake of being there. The peppery pork chop over rice had this lightly grilled cabbage that brought an unexpected smokiness to the dish and a spicy pickled vegetables that both complemented the savory pork really well. The chili oil wontons had plenty of spice and bold flavor, but the creaminess of the peanut sauce rounded everything out and kept the chili oil from being overpowering. The Triple Treasure Beef Noodle Soup was deeply savory and comforting, with plenty of five spice richness and deeply braised shank, tendon, and tripe throughout. Three very different Taiwanese dishes, but each felt thoughtful, balanced, and rebranded in its own way. Ambiance: A really cool modern take on Taiwanese nostalgia. There's a sleekness to the space, including the focused lunch menu, modern lighting, and clean presentation, but it's balanced by the exposed brick, traditional-style seating, and small nostalgic details scattered throughout. I especially loved the narrow beverage fridge glowing beneath a sign that reads, "Two 100 capsules without sleep." Little touches like that give the restaurant personality and make the space feel like more than just another trendy modern dining room. Service: Friendly, easy, and efficient. We came for lunch and were one of only a few parties there, so there was no wait. Everything came out accurately and in good time, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. Overall, a really memorable Taiwanese lunch. The food feels carefully composed without being fussy, and the space does a great job of blending something modern with a sense of nostalgia and tradition. Definitely a place I'd come back to soon.

Drinks were excellent! They seated us at the bar first because we were super early and the popcorn…read morechicken app was very well fried with some yummy glaze. Faves at our dinner table were the cold sesame noodles, wontons, and pork jowl. IMO you don't need the fried rice so just get the jowl as an app, not a protein add-on. I wished the BDSM chicken had more dark meat, but it was also really well fried and flavored. My husband and I also both wished the fried tofu app fully went stinky tofu, but I get why that's not on the menu here. Pork hock croquette was just ok and the huadiao egg tofu could've been better served over rice vs with wonton chips. Pea shoots were solid but it's hard to mess that up. Husband wished the wontons were in more of a chili oil than the sesame sauce but the wontons themselves were really delicious. Want to try 886 next time!

Incredible service from every staff member, immaculate vibes throughout the restaurant, and unique…read moreand tasty dishes across the board. Came here for a birthday dinner as a group of 7. We had to adjust the reservation a few times and the staff were very kind and accommodating. This place is also kid friendly! Our party didn't eat pork and we had a few allergy concerns. Not only was the staff understanding, they were extremely accommodating in making the dishes without pork and with certain items on the side so everyone could enjoy the food. Our group loved the chili crab noodles and wings the best, though everything was very yummy! They were also happy to store and serve the cake we brought (cake cutting fee applies). Overall, our group had a wonderful time. A huge thank you to the staff (from the host, to our server, the cooks, and the reservation contact) for making this birthday dinner a lovely experience!

Here is the quick and dirty of it: If you are looking for…read morean interesting take on Cantonese flavors, I would recommend Phoenix Palace. The long story: Had a reservation for 5:30 right at opening as a party of 5. Loved how warmly we were greeted; our server was a sweetheart. I believe her name was Kim. The drinks were really good, and the food came out fast. Everything that we got was tasty--a good modern take on familiar flavors. Plating was nice. As you can see, the camera got to eat first. The wings and wontons really stood out for me. The wings were cooked to perfection with good texture on the outside. The wontons were delicious and used the Yap tiew to finish the wonton sauce... so bomb! Loved the overall feel of the restaurant; it felt like "Crazy Rich Asians" would have shot a scene here. It was cozy, modern, and vibrant.

This was my fourth time dining here, and I've also lost count of how many lunch specials I've…read moreordered for delivery. Safe to say... Twilight Lounge has officially become one of my go-to spots! The atmosphere is such a cozy vibe. We were greeted and seated right away, grabbed a window table, and enjoyed soft jazz playing in the background while catching up with friends. Everything we ordered was a hit! The mapo tofu had the perfect spicy, silky kick, the braised beef tendon was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the eggplant with garlic sauce was packed with flavor, the farmhouse-style pork was crispy and aromatic, and the limited-time golden salted-egg rice cakes & lobster absolutely stole the show. Crispy, savory, rich... Add the dishes' sauces to white rice, my gosh, just writing this review is making me salivate... The service was beyond excellent. Huge shoutout to Lili! Even though the kitchen took a little longer (which we honestly didn't mind since everything was made fresh), she surprised us with complimentary pear and sugar cane drinks to cool us down. It was refreshing, light, and not overly sweet. She was incredibly warm, attentive, and made sure every table was comfortable--even while handling the entire front of the restaurant by herself on a Saturday afternoon! We even got to chat with her in our mother tongue, which made the experience feel even more special. THANK YOU, Lili, for your wonderful hospitality!We'll definitely be back. Highly recommended!

My friend and I went to take advantage of their $24 lobster promotion on Thursday and had a great…read moreexperience. The interior was small, but it was cute and lively. It got very loud because the table next to us was participating in their AYCD menu, so it was very tough to hear my friend sitting across from me. You can really taste the salted egg flavor in the lobster dish. I found the rice cakes to be a bit overcooked and lacking the bouncy texture. I really can't complain given that it was only $24 (normally it is $34, which isn't bad either). The staff was very nice and checked on us regularly. One of them recommended the eggplants over the string beans, but I found the eggplants to be way too oily and lacking in actual flavor.

Came in late in the evening on a Thursday while it was quite busy, but my party of 2 was seated in…read moreabout 10 mins. Service is super efficient, to order food you use a tablet at the table and order drinks from the servers. The dining room is beautiful and kind of peaceful. I saw quite a few large parties so this spot seems good for groups. We started with the truffle pork soup dumplings which might be the best I've ever had. The soup was the perfect temperature and so so flavorful. I would come back just for the dumplings. The mapo tofu and sauteed green beans came next, and we ordered two sides of plain white rice which came in a generously sized bowl. Portion sizes are large here, we had plenty of leftovers. We went for more familiar dishes, which were so well done, but all the different dishes flying through the dining room looked incredible. Will definitely be coming back to explore the rest of the menu.

Service is fast and reliable - you order from an iPad and the dishes come out. The space is a bit…read moretight, but typical for Manhattan. The inside is decorated very nicely. - Salted Ham Mixed Rice, (5/5): it was nice and savory, slightly salty, and it also had like little bits of pork fat in it and it was sooo flavorful. And the crackly bits of rice were so good - Qianlong's Favorite Eel, (3/5): the sauce was a bit too sweet for my liking, and the eel meat was a bit rubbery. I can see this being a fave if you like sweeter savory dishes - Grilled Beef Rib and Peppers, (4/5): the meat is soooo tender, and falls off the bone. It's very black pepper forward, and you can tell the entire dish is coated with cornstarch given the thick sauce. it was again, a bit on the sweeter side for me, but other than that it can be enjoyed by those who don't do well with spice - Ginger & Chili Frog, (4.5/5): lots of pieces of frog, and it wasn't spicy at first but it builds. You can really see and taste the ginger chunks- it is definitely very ginger forward with several different pao cai chillies (very sour, pungent, and spicy!) - Che Li's Pork Belly, (3/5): I'm personally not a big fan of pork belly, but my friend loves this! I see a lot of people order this, so don't take my word for it, try it yourself! - Sautéed Water Spinach, (3/5): pretty standard, tasted fresh, not much seasoning - Spicy Hunan Beef, (4/5): a very hot dry spice that goes well with rice. The beef texture was inconsistent, which knocked down some points Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and I would come again.

I liked the Peking duck and the malfadine. The crystal shrimp dumplings were fine. Not a huge fan…read moreof the fried rice (it was mushy and not fried well), the green beans (meh), or the fried toast dessert (this was REALLY bad - like diabetes on a plate - my friend and I couldn't have more than a bite - and it's topped with a chunk of butter). Overall, not bad if you just order the right dishes! Appreciated the creativity of the menu.

I'm sometimes skeptical about fancy cantonese american fusion spots, but also found it fun to see…read morefamiliar dishes reimagined in different forms. I just tried their new weekend brunch menu, featuring a fancy, elevated take on "cha chaan teng" (HK cafe) dishes with an american twist. The retro furnishings, red tables, and mirrors seriously give Wong Kar-wai vibes, especially reminiscent of In the Mood for Love (花樣年華). ＊Savory Oatmeal Congee $13 ** The sleeper hit of their brunch menu! It's an elevated congee topped with a runny poached egg, crispy spinach, and fried shallots and garlic. The chili oil had a real kick as I could feel the heat in my throat! I found the char siu was too lean and dry, but I guess that made it feel a little healthier lol. ＊BEC Milk Bread Sando $17 * It reminded me of a hk style club sandwich (公司三文治). The american cheese was on the outside instead of the middle, so the sando looked burnt at first glance. It was SO good, kind of like a grilled cheese, and the egg salad balanced out the applewood bacon perfectly. *Siu Mai $18 * Possibly the most expensive siu mai I've ever had in my life? I still wanted to try it out of curiosity. It was really really good with the tobiko caviar on top. The chili oil was aromatic and left a nice spicy aftertaste. ＊Hong Kong Style French Toast $17 It's a reimagined 西多士 with banana foster pudding, but this one was a miss for me. It was way too sweet, and the nutella totally overpowered the french toast. I'd much rather have a simple, classic version with just syrup or condensed milk. ＊HK Espresso Martini $22 My friend said the cocktail tasted pretty much like a regular espresso martini, even though it's made with condensed milk and black tea to mimic HK milk tea. ＊Cold Brew Milk Tea $8 I got the cold brew milk tea, but it was too watered down and barely had any tea flavor.

Sao Mai is a family-run restaurant in the East Village that serves traditional Vietnamese staples…read more We came here on a Saturday night, and the place is packed. They don't accept reservations, so allow yourselves some time to be seated. For our group of 4, we were seated early as we chose to dine slightly early. For appetizers, we devoured crispy spring rolls served with lettuce and mint leaves, and crispy calamari with a dipping sauce. Both appetizers were freshly made and delicious. We then ordered our own entrees. For myself, I selected grilled lemongrass pork chop with fried rice. Everyone enjoyed their dishes; my friend even quipped that it was really a good, unpretentious dinner to be had. With a good price point and friendly customer service, we can't wait to come back to try their other dishes.

This is amazing Viet food!! I got the pho tai and it's genuinely delicious and reminds me of…read moreHouston (where I'm from). Some may say it's salty but they just don't know about Northern Viet food. The meat was very tender compared to other places. Usually I would have to add more condiments but I didn't. I also didn't have to wait on a Friday. The food comes out fast and servers are sweet with recommendations. I feel right at home here because they actually speak Vietnamese while most places are not Vietnamese owned. Decor is very cozy and you can automatically tell it's a Viet restaurant when you walk in.