This was my fourth time dining here, and I've also lost count of how many lunch specials I've ordered 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! read more

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Very impressive restaurant coming from the same minds behind Birds of a Feather. Upon walking in, I noticed the wall art composed of real-ingredients! Goes to show they don't mess when it comes to flavors. The Salted Duck Egg Tofu is phenomenal--only complaint is that I had to share it. Otherwise, I would've finished it all alone. Love seeing an all tendon dish. USA needs more of this. Yummy, chewy texture. Very tasty broth--reminds me of Vietnamese pho. The workers are so kind and playful too. They definitely added to the experience. Would love to come back. read more

Twilight Lounge - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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A tiny Chinese spot tucked away on a street corner, with only a handful of tables and an atmosphere that feels refreshingly personal. The chef once led kitchens at TAO, one of New York's iconic nightlife destinations. Now, having traded the city's buzz for something quieter, he tends a much smaller flame of his own. The menu strikes a thoughtful balance between the delicate elegance of Cantonese cuisine and the lively spirit of Sichuan flavors. The heat never overwhelms; instead, a gentle hint of Sichuan pepper lingers on the palate, subtle and memorable, like a story that stays with you long after it's told. It's the kind of place that comforts Chinese diners craving a taste of home, while remaining welcoming to those picking up chopsticks for the very first time. Nothing too bold, nothing too mild--just beautifully balanced, with flavors that land exactly where they should. read more

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This is like Szechuan food heaven on Earth. We got the Chongqing chicken, which is perfectly spicy and crispy which comes with their house chili sauces, which are absolutely out of this world. The service is impeccable, and they are so welcoming and appreciative of our patronage. read more

Twilight Lounge - Chongqing Chicken - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

I went to this spot with both Szechuan and Cantonese food a good while back with a group. The staff was friendly, and the space is adequate. They have a nice selection of drinks for a Chinese place, including many cocktails, along with wine, beer, and a mix of teas. I had one of their many fancier teas, someone else had a non-alcoholic beer, and another guy had a cocktail. We had a mix of dishes, and it was all pretty tasty. We ordered a mix of Cantonese and Szechuan, though mostly Cantonese, and got the following: BoomBoom Crunch Ribs岭南咚咚骨- Juicy tea-marinated pork ribs with crispy rice crust. $30. Cantonese Braised Beef Tendon/港式炆牛筋- Slow-cooked tendon, winter melon, carrots, and garlic sauce. $28 Spicy Cumin Lamb/香辣孜然羊- Tender lamb, celery, onions, and cumin. $28 Lava Salted Egg Tofu/金沙脆豆腐 - Crispy tofu and salted egg. $26 Laifeng Pickled Cabbage Fish/来凤酸菜鱼- Fish fillet, pickled cabbage, tofu, napa cabbage, and bean sprouts. $28 Fried Eggplant in Garlic Sauce/鱼香茄子. $18 Black Pepper Beef Udon/黑椒牛炒乌冬- Tender beef slices, udon noodles, and black pepper sauce. $20 Fried Rice w/ Mustard Green Shoots /川芽菜炒饭- Sichuan preserved vegetables, eggs, onions, and scallions. $13 Cantonese Style Crispy Prawns/避风塘大虾- 8 prawns, crispy garlic, scallions, and chili. Our favorites were the tendon, udon, crispy prawns, and Laifeng Pickled Cabbage Fish. I wouldn't say any dish was bad, with only the Cumin Lamb and Fried Eggplant feeling standard, but good, and I would go back and try more. Excellent place overall. read more

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Visited Twilight Lounge for Thursday dinner as they have AYCD (all you can drink) for about $21. I had their frozen lychee drink which was light and refreshing and definitely left me with a couple brain freezes. Food was very good. Their have the crispiest green onion pancakes that are to die for. Cucumber salad is classic and hits the spot. Their Chongqing spicy chicken and fries is a fire fest (those peppers got to me omg) but it's the perfect size and really tasty. Only issue we ran into was that our order of wings was undercooked (sent those back) but otherwise, really solid experience. The place wasn't busy so a reservation was unnecessary, so I hope that things pick up for them soon! read more

If you're looking for a reliable neighborhood spot with excellent service, Twilight Lounge absolutely delivers. From the moment you walk in, the staff is warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly, making you feel welcome right away. The food is consistently good, always fresh, and served quickly, and the drinks are well made and fairly priced. The team really pays attention to their customers--checking in at the right moments, happy to make recommendations, and always keeping things running smoothly. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, perfect for a casual meal, drinks with friends, or a laid-back night out in the East Village. Great service can make or break a place, and Twilight Lounge gets it right every time. A true local favorite and an easy five stars. read more

Twilight Lounge - Shanghai Soup Dumplings (4 pcs) - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

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This if for 2 visits. First one was during the week for lunch. The lunch special fish came with cucumbers andspring rolls,the fish was crispy and full of flavor absolutely a must get. The truffle shumai was huge juicy and lots of truffle, the fried rice was delicious and the drinks tasty. Service is 10 out of 10 the lady who works there is so friendly and sweet she constantly checked up on us and talked with everyone at the table that it was so great we made a reservation for mothers day. Mothers day visit was fantastic she was there again to serve us and same fantastic service. Everything we ordered was hot flavorful fresh and worth it. We also got tea for the table which was refilled for us and the date dessert which was a nice ending to a wonderful mean. Definitely check it out they do specials during the week. We were told check the ig page to see them last month Thursday they did all you can drink. read more

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Decided to try this place out during the summer restaurant week. Based on the name I was expecting a dark and hipster asian restaurant, but it was actually light bright and unpretentious. The food was also delicious. And it was so fun that they included a cocktail as part of their restaurant week deal. read more

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My completely unfounded hypothesis for how Twilight Lounge came to be is that the founders wanted to open an authentic Canto spot but after market researching (AKA talking to the locals), they learned that New Yorkers are crazy for Szechuan food, so they decided to tack that on--because Chinese people are nothing if not people pleasers. And thus this Cantonese-Szechuan menu was born. The above is based on an untrue story. Now on to the food. - Wood Ear Mushroom Salad: Refreshing and perfectly spicy - Lotus Root Stir-fry Medley: Because we all need fiber. Get this classic stir-fry to make your bathroom trips more fun. - Crab Roe Silken Tofu: Soft and tasty, better than I expected. - Wong Fei Hung Prawns: If you look at this name and the Jet Li theme song doesn't automatically play in your head, you're not Cantonese enough to appreciate this dish. But it's okay; this dish is so good, it would win over a vegan. It was easily the star of the show, everyone's favorite. The prawns were plump and juicy, and the peppercorns were crunchy and satisfying--all coming together in the perfect marriage of mouth-singing flavor. We picked this clean like buzzards circling a dead rodent. - Sichuan Braised Fish: Our first taste of their Szechuan offerings, and the verdict is....pass! This was spicy, umami and complex, loaded with mouth-tender fish and veggies, and as comforting and filling as similar offerings at Szechuan restaurants. - Tea Smoked Duck Fried Rice: Not much duck, smoke or tea flavor. Not much duck either. I'd skip this unless you really want to blow money on fried rice. Service was friendly and attentive, and decor was modern chic. Twilight Lounge has stiff competition from the borough, but it surprisingly holds its own--esp. if you're in this neck of the woods and craving umami. read more

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Growing up eating Cantonese food in Hong Kong, I can say Twilight Lounge is one of the best modern chinese restaurant in NYC. And yes, I'm biased toward Canto cuisine. While the menu features both Canto and Szechuan dishes, it leaned more Szechuan. We got most of the Canto dishes here. It gave me 私房菜 (private kitchen) vibes, and felt like a journey back to HK. ＊Canto Style Crispy Prawns 避風塘大蝦 $26 I didn't expect I could find "避風塘" (typhoon shelter) dishes in NYC. The 8 crispy jumbo prawns were tossed in crispy garlic and dried chili. It was less savory than the ones I remember, but I might prefer this version more. ＊Canto Braised Beef Tendon 港式炆牛筋 $28 This slow-cooked beef tendon has a jelly-like texture, and the juicy chunks of winter melon and carrots gave it a natural sweetness. ＊Twilight Special Fried Rice 朝暮炒飯 $18 I haven't had xo-sauce fried rice in a hot minute, so this one really hit. It had shrimps, lap cheong, corn, scallion and egg. I do wish it had just a touch more umami to round it out. ＊Crab Roe Silken Tofu 蟹粉豆腐 $25 The tofu was silky, coated in a rich crab roe sauce. You could actually see and taste the crab roe, with bits of crab meat. ＊Dan Dan Noodle 擔擔麵 $10 ＊Pork Dumpling in Chili Oil 紅油抄手 $10 I was also curious about the Szechuan dishes. The chili oil was aromatic and packed some heat. The dan dan noodles had a numbing spiciness, but the kick didn't linger too long.  ＊Glutinous Rice Ball in Sweet Rice Wine 酒釀圓子 $8 The BEST 酒釀圓子 i had in NYC so far. Lightly alcoholic and bursting with osmanthus fragrance. I only wished they could give more sweet rice wine soup because it was too good.  ＊Golden Coconut Milk Custard 脆椰奶金磚 $8 It had a soft coconut milk center, coated in a crispy and thin panko crust, just like 炸鮮奶 (deep-fried milk), and very lightly sweetened! read more

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This new spot in LES is serving up some authentic Chinese dim sum and entrees. It is a small gorgeous space inside and they were doing a happy hour so we had to get some discounted dim sum. Service overall was good even though there were only two servers running everything while we were there. I really enjoyed all of the apps. The dumpling skins were strong and they all had lots of filling. The beef in the pancake was cooked perfect too. The tendon was chewy and hot. The fish was crispy but not too oily. The fried rice wasn't too salty and the beans were lightly fried and lightly salted. I do think they lower the flavors to accommodate to non-Asian customers though and wish they added some more MSG or salt to some of the dishes. Also, in June, if you spend over $60 you can draw a raffle ticket to win a Labubu. read more

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I finally had the chance to visit this new Chinese restaurant in East Village on Mother's Day. It's a cozy spot with a nice ambiance. They were able to accommodate our group of 9 and were giving any moms that ate there a bouquet of flowers. It was a nice gesture that several of the patrons appreciated. Twilight Lounge has a deal for lunch special sets from 11 AM - 3 PM every day. They come with several different items. For a meal in NYC, these sets are at an excellent price point. However, we opted to go family-style due to the size of our group so that we could try as many dishes as possible. All the dishes were solid, but the one that really stood out was the fried eggplant in garlic sauce. It was a favorite for several members of our group. The texture and depth of flavor in the sauce were exceptional. A few of us wrapped up the meal by trying the golden crispy coconut milk custard. It was crispy on the outside, piping hot inside, and was a nice little treat to end the meal with. The service was great and it seems like they are still experimenting with potential new dishes. I would definitely visit again in the future to try out more of their food. read more

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It's a good spot. Food options are solid but nothing special though. I really liked the dining environment here. It's very comfy and modern. The service was great! read more

Twilight Lounge - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

Updated March 31,2026, the food and service continues to be outstanding thanks to Lily and Ridwan the manager for their outstanding hospitality and service. Thank you again for your kindness and hospitality as I continue to travel around the world and make this restaurant a place to visit when I am in New York. The owner or owners should be happy to have a caring and a wonderful staff. read more

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I noticed a $14 lunch special that was too good to ignore. I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken, which came with the white rice, egg rolls and pickled cucumbers. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of wok-seared edges, tossed in a glossy sauce that struck a nice balance between sweet, savory, and just a hint of spice. Crunchy peanuts gave it texture as did the egg rolls, and the cool, vinegary cucumbers on the side refreshed the palate between bites. For $14 in Manhattan? A steal. I came with family and we ordered a few dishes off the regular menu to share. The Spicy Cumin Lamb was a standout. Sliced thin and stir-fried with whole dried chilies and cumin seeds, the dish had a smoky, earthy depth that lingered in a good way. It packed some heat, but it was the kind that builds slowly--warming, not overwhelming. The real surprise for me was the dry-style Sichuan Beef Noodle. I usually expect something heavier or soup-based, but this version came tossed in a savory, umami-rich sauce that clung beautifully to the chewy noodles. The marinated beef slices were flavorful and tender, and the overall dish felt comforting yet bold. It's the kind of meal you could crave on a rainy day--or after a long one. The Twilight Fried Rice also deserves mention. Unlike typical fried rice dishes, this version arrived with a crispy bottom layer--almost like a socarrat from paella--adding a delightful crunch to each spoonful. It was savory, aromatic, and loaded with bits of egg, scallions, and diced vegetables. It's a clever and satisfying twist on a classic that I didn't expect to love as much as I did. We also tried dishes like the beef pancake roll, which was like a scallion pancake rolled around savory beef slices, the wife and husband sliced beef in chili oil, spicy shrimp, and the spicy fried fish filet, both of which leaned on the hotter side, so be warned if you're spicy -sensitive (or tell them to adjust the spice level). I found the lotus root stir-fry refreshing and light, with its mix of squash, wood ear mushrooms and lotus root slices. And a special shoutout to Jonathan, who took care of our table with warmth, efficiency, and always with a smile. Twilight Lounge an East Village gem that brings the heat, flavor, and hospitality. Definitely one to watch. read more

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One word: Excellent! Everything from the service, food quality, freshness, taste, and portions, were on point. The standouts were the chicken wings, spicy fish filets and the soup dumplings; the broth was full of flavor. Our server, Michael, was incredibly attentive and humorous. I can't wait to go back. This was an awesome experience! read more

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New favorite spot for Sichuan food the dishes tasted nostalgic and familiar. The Chongqing Spicy Chicken and the Crispy Prawns is a must get - my favorite dishes. Super flavorful. The interior is cute, minimalistic and clean. The server was nice and came by to check on us. Their portions was big and great for sharing. I would definitely get their lunch special to try different dishes in a smaller porter. 100% would recommend. read more

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Food was absolutely delicious!!!!! can't recommend it enough. The service was perfect and they are so kind. The ambiance was not only aesthetic but also super inviting. If you are in the are you need to eat here at least once! read more

Twilight Lounge - Chinese Near Me - New York, New York

I think this is the best place to get Chinese food in the East Village. Their lunch special is absolutely amazing. I keep dreaming about their Chicken with Shanghai Baby Bok Chow. I can't wait to keep trying more items on their menu. read more

Everything was fantastic! Wasn't sure what to expect but we were pleasantly surprised! We were a group of 8 and we ordered a LOT of food! Loved the soup dumplings and spicy wontons! Also all the vegetables were delicious...string beans, eggplant, Bok Choy, Shredded potato, cucumber. Enjoyed the wings, spicy cumin lamb and spicy chicken too. Also ordered the udon stir fry noodles and friend rice. Wanted to order more but was too full. Can't wait to go back to try more dishes! My dad is Cantonese and I love good Cantonese food! Highly recommend! read more

Excellent food and service!! Great location and will definitely return. All of the dishes and cocktails were great

Ok 1. The service is incredible. Thank you for being so gracious and helpful! 2. The egg tofu dish - WOW. 3. All in all, thrilled with how clean, beautiful and delicious this restaurant is. I will absolutely be back to try more dishes. read more

Great food, excellent on allergy awareness (have peanut and sesame allergy), will definitely be going back

This is upscale Chinese dining, so maybe I'm a bit unused to the high prices. The food was good and service very attentive. The teas were good, and you can choose beer and wine as well. read more

Delicious, classic dishes with warm, inventive modern flourishes. Very pleased by the flavors and service and vibe here. House special fried rice blew me away! So glad it's here in the East Village. Shoutout to my vampires, werewolves and Hitchcock fans, too! read more

Excellent food, service and ambiance. The wings are so succulent and flavorful and leaves you longing for more. The fried rice is out of this world! An A+ for charm :) read more

Get the Dan Dan Noodles! The food & service was great! We just happened on to this place. So glad we did!

It was all great, delicious food, fast service, and a wonderful table for our post Thanksgiving dinner out! Juicy pork dumplings, green beans, chicken wings and bok Choy were my favorite but I enjoyed everything. read more

Food was delicious. Differently a upscale fusion. Very pretty decorative and good service. Will come back with friends.

Food is authentic and excellent. Probably the best Chinese takeout I've had in the East Village. Get the spicy beef udon.

Loved Twilight Lounge! It's a great addition to the neighborhood! All of the food was really fresh and well prepared. The service and space were warm and friendly. Best of all they were able to accommodate a seafood/nut allergy which can be tricky. Definitely will go back to try more dishes! read more