Really good dim sum. Despite being the oldest dim sum restaurant in Chinatown (since 1920), my partner and I were nervous seeing the Yelp rating. We even had a debate over it. We concluded 1) The theory about really good Chinese restaurants getting mid-ratings = really good (the service may be bad but that's cuz they're focused on the food! not the service!) and after enjoying the meal 2) Nom Wah is REALLY good. Looks like some people didn't have as good an experience as us based on the reviews, which is valid. Maybe it's based on taste preferences, and we happened to try all really good dishes. Faves were the turnip cake with XO sauce, pan fried dumplings, siu mai, and the roast pork bun. Their OG egg roll was unique and reminiscent of good ole Chinese American food. Only one that was slightly lacking in my book was the shrimp rice roll - the rice roll was quite thick. The interior is cool and has vintage charm. We're gonna take our parents here when they're in town! read more

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We waited about 45 minutes to get in, and honestly it was not worth the hype. The food was pretty mid across the board, especially considering the wait. The service was even worse. The waiters barely acknowledge you unless you wave them down multiple times, and the whole experience felt rushed and inattentive. On top of that, the restaurant itself felt surprisingly dirty and worn down. I understand it's an old-school Chinatown spot, but there's a difference between "historic" and just not well kept. Overall, this place feels massively overhyped compared to the actual quality of the food and service. read more

Came by on a weekday afternoon. I didn't have to wait for a table. This place looks rough about the edges but that's part of the charm. The food was average at best. Prices are decent. Service was good. I liked the spring rolls best. This place is somewhere you go to because it's historic not because it's anything spectacular food wise read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Fried rice and spring rolls - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

The birthplace of the eggroll- I visited this shop for a quick bite while I was in Chinatown and luckily didn't have to wait for a seat. I ordered the House Special Pork Bun and the Original Egg Roll for two quick bites. The pork bun was a 3/5- the pork was great, but the skin was a bit too thick and sticky for my taste. The original egg roll was a bit of a disappointment, maybe 2/5. For one person, it was actually quite large and far too greasy. Although the outside was super crispy, the insides were mushy and didn't have any distinctive flavors. I'd only order it just to say I've tried it and never again. The age of the shop showed in its ambiance, and it had this very retro old-time diner feeling, a very unique atmosphere. The service was quick and okay. Note that they only accept cash and AMEX here. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Original "OG" Egg Roll - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Wonderful food. We ordered several dim sum dishes and a side of fried rice. All of it was wonderful. They gave us complimentary jasmine and oolong teas. We got there before the tourist lunch rush, so got seated pretty fast for a group of 6. Service was meh, but nothing the food couldn't fix. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Menu - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Visited Nom Wah for the first time with a friend on a Saturday for lunch. They don't take reservations, so we waited about 15 minutes for a table, and there was a line outside. Once seated, we were quickly served tea and ordered a variety of dishes. We tried the soup dumplings, shrimp rice rolls, stuffed eggplant, scallion pancakes, and pork buns. Everything came out very quickly, tasted fresh, and was really enjoyable. It was a generous amount of food for two people, and the total came to about $50 including tip. I enjoyed being able to try a range of dishes, and everything was very fresh and flavorful. I don't eat dim sum very often, but I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend it. I would love to come back and try more from the menu. read more

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This place is VERY popular. My friends and I sat down as soon as they opened (11am; talk about perfect timing). By the time we left there was a line out the door. Either get there early or expect a wait. Additionally, they only accept cash and AMEX.   The food was really good and satisfying. It's hard not to go crazy with the ordering so we did end up with a lot of leftovers. I would say some standouts were the chicken feet (such incredible flavor) and the steamed bean curd skin rolls.   I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the options here. read more

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My honest review of this 100-year-old dim sum spot in NYC's Chinatown -- from someone born and raised in Hong Kong. There's always a long line outside Nom Wah's OG location, but my family always says it's "dim sum for tourists." But after finally trying it myself, I have to disagree -- the dim sum is actually authentic, high-quality, and prepared fresh in-house (though a bit pricey). I'd say it's really worth coming here at least once for the food and the retro vibes. It feels like a time capsule from Chinatown. My favorites include: ＊Turnip Cake with XO Sauce XO 醤炒羅蔔糕 $13.50 MY TOP PICK. Crispy edges, soft inside, tossed in XO sauce with dried shrimp, scallop & lap cheong. It wasn't drenched in oil which was a big plus. ＊House Special Roast Pork Bun 本樓叉燒包 $5.65 Hands down the best steamed char siu baos I've had in NYC. The filling wasn't dyed bright red or overly sweet/salty, with real chunks of pork (not pure fat). The only thing is you get only one bun for that price. ＊Stuffed Eggplant 釀茄子 $6.85 I often find stuffed eggplant too oily, but this one surprised me: huge eggplant, stuffed with shrimp paste, very meaty. ＊House Special Dumpling in Soup 本樓湯餃 $7.25 HUGE and packed with meat and shrimp! Other standouts: ＊Original OG Egg Roll 本樓香酥春捲 $8.50 Filled with chicken and veggies wrapped in a thin egg wrapper. The outer crust reminded me of 油炸鬼 (you tiao), super flaky and crispy. While the veggies helped balance it out so it didn't feel too 熱氣 (yit hay). ＊Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage 臘味糯米飯 $7.30 Lap cheong sticky rice is an absolute must in fall and winter. A quarter portion could fill you up and it's so comforting. ＊Shrimp & Snow Pea Leaf Dumpling 豆苗餃 $6.85 The filling surprisingly leaned more toward shrimp paste than veggies, though I would've liked a bit more greens in this one. read more

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Nom Wah is the oldest operating dim sum restaurant in New York - over 100 years old. It's was known for its mooncakes, but the baker has since retired. It's now known for their dumplings and has a restaurant in Philadelphia. They also have an online store to purchase the dumplings to be shipped nationwide. The dim sum was alright. It wasn't the best dim sum I've had but I was glad to have supported this culturally rich and long standing establishment. I didn't get to take pics of all the food, but managed to get the menu! read more

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Ambiance is fun / a throw back to tea houses. Food is OK . Service is less than perfect. Good for a simple snake with charming atmosphere.

Historic spot that everyone must try! I loved the experience we had and the fair pricing. We got to try a bit of everything. My favorite was the soup dumplings and the spring rolls. I was hoping for a bit more flavor is my only critique. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Shanghainese Soup Dumplings, Egg Fried Rice, Spring Rolls and more! - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

You must checkout New York's oldest dim sum restaurant in historic Chinatown!! Not only are they serving traditional Hong Kong-style dim sum, but they have been open since 1920! Nom Wah Tea Parlour offers a variety of dim sum dishes, from dumplings, rice rolls, and buns to specialty items like their famous "OG Egg Roll". Some favorites were the Stuffed Eggplant, Shrimp Rice Rolls, and House Special Roast Pork Bun. So delicious wow!! The staff was nice and speedy too. We had a great time! read more

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Yuck! Dirty everywhere. Walls, bathrooms, floors. I like nostalgia but its been open since 1920 and I think that must have been the last time they cleaned. Food was so so. Service was attentive. Ambiance was destroyed by handprints everywhere. And the bathrooms were disgusting. I would never go back there. read more

Cute decor and vibe but the food was low quality and greasy. Had dim sum and shrimp fried rice and was disappointed, would not return. Tea was fine. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

3.5 Came here a second time to bring my mom. It's cool to be in a place that has so much history, but the food is just average. Cash only, and it's a very small spot. Fried rice is a bit on the greasy side. Shrimps are small. Pork bun is good, it's one giant bun instead of many little ones. The bread is a bit doughy, but there's a decent amount of meat. I liked the pork shu mai - very dense and the wrapping was delicate and well done. This is probably my favorite thing Did not like the har gow - as my mom said, "Costco's are better" -- the skins were dry, the shrimp wasn't great. Overall, would tell people about it because of its history, but it's definitely not the best dim sum in town. read more

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I was lucky to have an expert with our group to pick the shared plates. Everything was perfect. The soup dumpling and the little sandwich was some of the best I have ever had. Negative would have to be the I wish the restroom was a little cleaner. read more

In 1920, a tea parlor and bakery called Nom Wah opened on Doyers St. Today, it is New York City's oldest dim sum restaurant. Aside from not having dim sum carts because the food is now made-to-order, the rest of Nom Wah has not changed much. However, it does not look shabby. Instead, it is a combo of nostalgic and comforting. On most days, it is not unusual to see a long line outside of Nom Wah. The first time that I went, I stood in line for an hour and made the mistake of not reading the fine print about their accepted payment methods, which are cash and American Express. Sadly, I only had enough cash for one dish, so I got the house special pan-fried dumplings. The next time I came, there was no line, and I made sure to have my American Express card on me. The house special pan-fried dumplings, though extremely oily, were super crispy and delicious. The chicken feet and steamed spare ribs were on point. The har gow and Shanghainese soup dumplings were good enough. The shrimp siu mai was a little bland. Overall, it was a good meal and a charming experience. There are a lot of good dim sum places out there. Nom Wah is not the place to go to if you are looking for the best dim sum, but it is the best place to go to if you want to soak in a little history while having decent food. read more

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Nestled in a historic area since 1920, Nom Wah Tea Parlor is the oldest restaurant in Chinatown. Unfortunately, that was about where the highlights ended for me. The food was very mid, I've had better shrimp and char siu dumplings, but the soup dumplings were quite good. Plump and juicy! I think this place is interesting, but there are better places for dim sum in the city. read more

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Came upon Nom Wah Tea Parlor after leaving my barbershop also on Doyers Street, this narrow sharply curved one block quintessential Chinatown road. Nestled in the curve, it would be easy to overlook, but noticing this dim sim establishment dates from 1920 with my own memories of a first dim sim experience decades ago with my grandmom introducing me to (now defunct) HSF on the Bowery, I had to step in. Nom Wah's well-kept, time-worn, decades old interior reminds you that its the longest continuous restaurant in Chinatown. While there aren't dim sim carts travelling the aisles like HSF once had, you're quickly provided with a menu and order card to efficiently process your order. Along with an iced Oolong Tea with Hydrangea, I chose the House Special Roast Pork Bun, incorporating caramelized onions, and Shanghainese Soup Dumplings, filled with pork and broth. A range of condiments accompanied my table. The refreshing tea rapidly appeared, followed by my dim sum. The sizeable plump steamed bun contained the flavorful, sweet pork and onion filling. Applying a little vinager, I also savored my four yummy soup dumplings. All in all, everything was reasonably priced, enabling you to create a combo meal with an assortment of delicious treats. Note - They're clear when you enter, but just in case you miss it, Nom Wah takes only cash and AmEx. Definitely, I plan on returning to experience more on their menu, as well as bring along others to enjoy Nom Wah. Recommend you check it out as well. read more

The oldest tea parlor in NY - finally got a chance to visit. There must be reason they have been in business for so long. Their food was good, service was adequate. Throwback interior and kind of a cool looking faded sign outside. Had their dim sum and food was ok - I have had better, but I went there for the experience and it was interesting. It seems to be a bit touristy no and we went on a weekday and it was not that busy at lunch time. I've had better dim sum but would probably go back if I was nearby here again. read more

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Fantastic! Wide menu variety, delicious food, and prices are unbeatable. Great, casual spot. Excellent for groups or special occasions. No frills - just simple and delicious. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Shrimp Dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

One before 8pm it gets full fast on a Friday night . Services is okay but they are accommodating read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Shrimp & Egg-Fried Rice - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Came here around 8pm to wait in line for 10 minutes before we were seated. We ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a lot of vegetarian options. Chinese broccoli was sensational and everything else was super bland and textured mushy. The vegetables didn't have much flavor. The pan fried noodles were good but under seasoned. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Wine - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

I have been here about 5 times and it's always enjoyable! They were able to seat us for early dinner without a reservation, very nice service. The chicken soup dumplings are my favorite! An institution. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

A real old-school experience. No glamour, and the hygiene standards can feel a bit questionable, but the food was genuinely very good and the prices are unbeatable. Needless to say, it's a historic spot and definitely worth visiting at least once. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Nom Wah Tea Parlor was one of the standout food experiences from our New York trip. My wife and I came here while exploring Chinatown and instantly understood why this place has such a strong reputation. Being in the heart of Chinatown gives it an authentic energy that makes the experience feel even more special. We had the shrimp dumplings, spring rolls, a pale ale Hong Kong beer, and a Sprite, and everything hit the mark. The food felt classic, authentic, and comforting -- not overhyped at all. This place truly feels like a piece of New York history and definitely carries that original Cantonese dumpling house atmosphere people look for when visiting Chinatown. The only thing I'd recommend is clearer advertising regarding payment methods because they only take American Express and cash. Thankfully it wasn't an issue for us, but it's something visitors should know ahead of time. Other than that, this place absolutely lived up to expectations. Worth the wait, worth the experience, and definitely worth visiting if you want authentic Chinatown vibes in NYC. read more

Oldest and longest operating dim sum parlor in NYC, since 1920. Usually when I pass, there is a huge line, but today, serendipity, no line, and plenty of seats. This was an early Friday afternoon around 3-3:15 PM. Oh, and please remember, they only accept cash and AMEX. NOT Discover. A lot of places in chinatown only accept cash, so this isn't out of the ordinary. First, let's establish that I love experiencing and appreciating other cultures, but Chinese food/Asian food (outside of the subcontinent of India) are not necessarily a thing I gravitate to when searching out restaurants. But my friend and I were in for an adventure, so we headed inside. Love how you feel transported back in time, with the old schools floors and worn red booths and formica tables. Service prompt and curt, but totally appropriate. At the table, you have a numbered menu and checklist, and you check what you want on the list, as it corresponds with the laminated menus. You then take it up to the counter and are served your dishes over time. We got the roast pork buns--buns were warm and soft, pork was rich and hot. We got the fried noodles, which were crispy and well seasoned. We got shrimp and snap pea dumplings and chicken soup dumplings. I have to say I have not had great experiences with dumplings in the past--they seemed weird and sticky with tasteless filling. These dumplings were actually very pleasant. The chicken soup dumpling was full of flavor and the outside of the dumpling was formed perfectly. We ordered the original egg roll. And lemme tell ya, these are not the americanized egg rolls you're used to. These are huge, crispy, with warm, soft filling, almost like the Chinese version of chicken pot pie. We also tried the turnip cake, which was definitely a no-go for me, but my friend likes them, which is why we ordered them in the first place. Huge menu serving rice rolls, various dumplings, multiple renditions of fried rice, sweet and sour, soups, spare ribs, and even chicken feet (no thanks for me haha). This is an old school place. It's not going to be americanized for you. They aren't here to entertain you. I am glad we went. It was fun to try. That being said, I also know there may be some more authentic spots throughout Chinatown that I should try out now. read more

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First time at this classic! Line moves quickly and service is even quicker. The black iced tea was surprisingly SO refreshing, and each dish was amazing. FAVs would be the special egg roll and the pan fried noodles. I'd skip the veggie dumplings (lacking spices/falvor) but also everything is good! read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Original "OG" Egg Roll - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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I have always wanted to go here. Chinatown's oldest restaurant, since 1920. It's got that old-school vibe inside and nothing has been updated, which I love. We got some tea and came in on a night that was really really cold out, it just felt like the perfect kind of place to go to. The food was so good and I would love to come back and try other things. It was really quiet when I came in, I've been past this restaurant other times on the weekend and the line is typically out the door, so go during the week, I went after work and met up with some people. read more

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I had such high hopes for this restaurant but was sorely disappointed! Nothing was freshly made. My salt and pepper pork was dry and tasteless. The soup dumplings were salty and served with no vinegar and ginger sauce. The noodles were okay. I have had better. Servers dropped their food without rearranging plates to ensure they properly displayed. Won't come back. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Salt and pepper Pork. Dry and tasteless. Soy sauce noodles were okay. I had better - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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I was recommended here by a friend, and I am so glad I came! I ordered a bunch of different menu items and shared everything with my husband, and it was all great! The bun was the absolute best item, and I wish we would have ordered 4 more. The service was quick and the staff was friendly. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Vegetarian Dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was nothing special. They only accept cash and Amex. The store is a bit run down, and the bathroom was a bit messy and small. The massive thing that through me off was server was telling us we had to tip. read more

Nom Wah is the oldest dim sum place in Chinatown, so my friends and I decided to go and try it! It was pretty busy inside, but there was no wait for us (though there was a line when we left). The inside was charming, though pretty old. The booths were quite uncomfortable when we were sitting. The chinese broccoli was average, pretty on par to most I've had. The turnip cakes we got were cooked well, though they had forgotten to put on the Xo Sauce, so it was a bit bland. The rice rolls, siu mai, and har gow were also bland and a bit cold. We also got XLB, but I wouldn't get it again since there wasn't much soup in the dumplings, it was a bit grainy, and again not hot. Overall, I think I've had much better dim sum in NY and would recommend going elsewhere! The bathrooms were quite cramped and looked run-down as well. read more

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My wife had been asking me if I wanted dim sum. I'd been tied up late at work so we hadn't had a chance, but on a whim we went for it one day. If you didn't know, then you should know that there is only one place we go for dim sum anytime of the day: NOM WAH TEA PARLOR. Nom wah is known as the oldest dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. I've gone many times with my wife, friends, and even for huge events with up to 30 people. Obviously we are all fans, otherwise why would we continue coming back? I had pork shumai, a house pork bun, bamboo leaf rice, shrimp dumplings, spare ribs, chive dumplings and their special snow pea dumplings. All this along with some roasted pork and fried chicken wings that the owner hit us off with. By the end we were full and needed a doggy bag. As a beverage they had a pure ginger ale drink that I always go for, give it a try, it's really good. Real ginger ale! I love this spot, it's a great place, if you like Chinese food, you have to come here and try the food. Make sure you have one of those amazing buns, if memory serves me right its the first item in the sheet they hand you for ordering. It's my favorite, and fellow Yelper contributor Phil H also loves this item. When you go, say hi to the staff, tell them ARod sent you. They might remember me. read more

Nom Wah has been around for over 100 years, so we were really curious to see what the hype was about! The restaurant has been reigned "New York's Oldest Dim Sum Restaurant" which opened in 1920. There is always a long line here, so we were really excited to check it out. I ended up waiting in line for about 30 minutes while my friend wandered around Chinatown to grab us some "pre-breakfast" snacks, lol. Unfortunately, the experience was pretty disappointing. The service is what you'd typically expect from a Chinese dim sum spot--nothing extraordinary, but it gets the job done. The food was room temp at best, and everything either tasted bland or salty. For a place that's been in business for over a century, we had high expectations, but it definitely didn't live up to them. I wouldn't recommend this spot at all. Just because a restaurant has been around for a long time doesn't necessarily mean the food is any good. There are plenty of other places in the area with shorter wait times and much better food. Ambiance wise, it's a small space with vintage photos on the walls and cute decorative plates. read more

Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Mom Wah is a staple I keep going back to - I'm shocked why there's only 3.5 stars! Still good quality food with no frills read more

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Not only was this place delicious but also affordable and unique. This spot was recommended by a friend and didn't disappoint. Important to note that it's cash only and you should be prepared to wait in a line. There is an ATM on the street but it's high fees. Also the restrooms are very small. Which is all totally fine. We came here on a Monday (holiday) afternoon and waited about 29 minutes to get a table. The food was delicious and the service was pretty good as well. Prices were incredibly affordable. We got the Shanghainese dumplings, house special dumplings and soup, scallion pancakes and jasmine tea. All of it was so good you could tell the noodles were well made and it was all so tasty. Delicious broths and spices in the fillings I'm drooling just thinking about it. They did forget to bring out some of our dumplings at one point and we had to ask but they were quick to get them out and kind enough to take one of our teas off our check to make up for the wait (unprompted). All in all we had a great and filling lunch and left spending only $30 total with tip. Super cool and how often do you get to go to a restaurant that's been open for more than 100 years. Being from LA it's tough to imagine getting much better dim sum than some of the classic spots in Koreatown but this definitely rivaled them. read more

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I went twice to this place and I still think about the food. I was introduced to this place from a friend. The place takes cash or American Express only. The service is off but the food compensates for that. The best item in the menu was the tofu skin wraps. I still think about them they're so good . I ordered one my first time around. The second time I placed two orders because I knew my bf would love it too. The shumai was solid. The salty shrimp was delicious and so were the chicken feet. The feet is more of an acquired taste so oy i ate them. The Chinese broccoli was also amazing, nice and crips. Oh i almost forgot we also order the cilantro noodles, they're simple but amazingly good. I will be back to bring my family here so they can also try some of the best dishes in the city. The ambience is super casual. Keep in mind that their restrooms are extremely small and uncomfortable they still have those old sinks with the separate hot and cold water faucet read more

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I thought the dim sum here was overall pretty bad. The best items were the sesame balls and the pan fried dumplings which were ok but everything else was extremely bland. The texture of certain items such as the skin of the har gow was off. Definitely would recommend avoiding. read more

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Uhhh, okay. Probably the most underwhelming restaurant relative to queue that I've visited over the last year. Dim sum menu is basic, notably without duck, seafood beyond shrimp, or succulent pork options. It felt dated and tourist-trappy compared to Golden Unicorn or Dim Sum Sam. Service was fast. Chair was uncomfortable. Nothing to see here. read more